Muncugtepe necropolis

Muncuqlutəpə necropolis — an Iron Age archaeological monument near the villages of Sabirkənd and Kələntər Dizə in the Ordubad district of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Research

During investigations carried out in 1979–1982, a complex of 33 tombs of the sarcophagus type was studied on an area of approximately 1600–1700 m². The graves are neatly worked with mountain stones of various sizes, and their tops are covered with slab stones. Up to 1.5 meters of slab stones are laid around the chambers. There are sarcophagi measuring up to 3 meters in length and 1.6 meters in width. Their depths reach up to 1.3 meters. The Muncuqlutəpə graves consist of three parts:

the chamber of the grave;

the entrance passage;

a separately constructed sacrificial area.

The entrance passage to the grave chamber is stone-worked from the west or east side and covered with slab stones. Their stone-paved floor is higher than the floor of the grave chambers. The entrance passage to the grave chamber is covered with a single slab stone placed on a stake, which facilitated entry into the grave chamber during subsequent burials.

Structure of the graves

In only one of the 33 sarcophagi of the Muncuqlutəpə necropolis, the chamber was divided into two parts by flat stones placed on a stake. All sarcophagi in the necropolis were partially or heavily looted, the anatomical condition of the skeletons was disturbed, and the bones were scattered inside the chamber. One reason for this was the pushing back of previous skeletons during subsequent burials. According to the condition of several untouched skeletons found by chance, it was determined that the deceased were placed in a flexed position in the grave, with the upper part placed on the side.

Unlike the sacrificial pits used adjacent to graves in the 3rd–2nd millennia BC, the sacrificial pits of the Muncuqlutəpə tombs were placed separately in front of the entrance path to the grave. The sacrificial pits were constructed in rectangular, square and circular plans. Several untouched sacrificial pits have been discovered in the Muncuqlutəpə necropolis. A complete set of tableware (28 clay vessels) was placed in these pits. Decorative objects are encountered only very rarely in the sacrificial pits. In the clay vessels of the sacrificial pits, probably plant‑derived dry and liquid foods were placed. Thus, to date no animal or bird bones have been found in the clay vessels. Nevertheless, the discovery of clay sheep figures in one vessel provides a basis to say that the sacrificial slaughter ritual was performed in a symbolic sense. One aspect of the burial practice found at Muncuq lutəpə should be noted in particular. When a fresh corpse was buried in the chambers of the tombs, new clay vessels were placed next to it, and the sacrificial pits were not touched. Alternatively, it is assumed that the clay vessels from the sacrificial pits were taken away, cleaned, refilled with food and then returned to the sacrificial pits.

Materials obtained from the excavations

A sacrificial pit chamber is divided into two parts and both parts are furnished with the same vessels. This pit was probably constructed when two persons died at the same time. Characteristic for the sacrificial pits are a single cup with a hole in the base, a “kettle”‑type ladle, a vase with a conical foot, a flat three‑legged stand, various bowls, plates and goblets. A number of plates and bowls have rim or shoulder decorations with a vertical or horizontal hole, serving as a lock substitute. The majority of the vessels found in the sacrificial pits are technically flawed, crooked and untidy. Some vessels lack holes in the lock‑substitute ears, and some “kettle”‑type vessels lack holes in the spout. These vessels were poorly baked in the oven, with a small portion decorated. In general, when analyzing Muncuqlutəpə ceramics, the impression arises that the clay vessels placed in the sacrificial pits were specially made for burial. In contrast, the vessels placed in the grave beside the dead were of higher quality, many of them engraved, and some painted with geometric ornaments in red. Metal objects discovered in the tombs consist mainly of bronze bracelets, rings, pendants, earrings, various buttons with a loop on the back, and weapons. Only two knives and five arrowheads have been found. From the Muncuqlutəpə tombs, decorative items made of bronze hanging from an iron chain, a single cup‑shaped handle, knife fragments and iron pieces whose shape cannot be identified have been uncovered. A large quantity of beads made of agate, paste, travertine, carnelian and bronze were found in the tombs. Among the bronze decorative items, it is necessary to especially note a circular amulet with a net pattern and a hanging loop, and bird figures. These bronze items, known from the Bronze Age, were widespread in the South Caucasus at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. Only two silver hoop‑ring earrings have been discovered. Among the decorative items, beads made of agate are the most numerous.

Although most of them are crudely made, there are also well‑polished examples among them. It is necessary to specially note the beads made of white stone that are flat, quadrangular in shape, and have concentric‑circle patterns carved with a technique close to angles. Such beads have been found most often in the Trialetian (7th–6th centuries BC). Together with the beads, cylindrical seals have also been found in the graves. Two of these are made of soft white stone and are ornamented by carving in the shape of a pine tree. On one of them, on a light brown background, four rows of concentric circles with a dot in the centre have been carved so that the result is a white ornament on a light brown background. The description is unclear. Such cylindrical seals are known from the Mərlik monument. In general, analogous material to the finds of the Muncuqlutəpə necropolis is most frequently encountered in the Urmia Lake basin monuments and in Eastern Anatolia (the Black‑spotted necropolis). The Muncuqlutəpə necropolis belongs to the 8th–6th centuries BC.