Öküzler Kampı

Öküzlər camp — an ancient settlement located in the upper part of the Böyükdaş mountain within the Gobustan National Historical and Artistic Reserve, belonging mainly to the transitional phase between the end of the Upper Paleolithic and the Mesolithic period. The camp was discovered between stones numbered 41 and 42, which have rock‑surface drawings, approximately 50–55 m north of “Ana zağa” and 25 m south of “Ovçular zağası”. Because of the presence of ox depictions on those rocks, members of the monument expedition named it the “Oxen” camp.

The camp was included in Azerbaijan’s list of world‑significant immovable historical and cultural monuments in 2001 and in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2007.

Research

The Öküzlər camp is located in the Gobustan National Historical and Artistic Reserve on the Böyükdaş mountain, 50–55 m north of Ana zağa and 25 m south of Ovçular zağası. The camp lies between stones numbered 41 and 42, which bear ox depictions. Archaeological excavations were carried out at the Öküzlər camp in 1974. The investigations determined that ancient people used this area as a settlement for a long time. Because of the ox depictions on those rocks, members of the monument expedition named it the “Oxen” camp.

Since the middle part of the camp was washed away by rainwater, the cultural layer has been preserved only north of stone 41 and on the east side of stone 42, about 0.5 m wide and 0.5–10 cm thick. During the excavations, nearly 1,000 archaeological items were obtained from the camp.

The stone artifacts of the Öküzler camp mainly have characteristics typical of the Stone Age. However, the abundance of hook-shaped tools, the scarcity of geometrically shaped tools, and the character of the rock art indicate that the monument was primarily used in the transitional phase between the end of the Upper Paleolithic and the Mesolithic period. The pottery shards discovered as a result of archaeological excavations also show that the camp was used for a short time during the Early Bronze and Late Bronze periods.

After the restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence, the camp was entered into the list of world‑significant immovable historical and cultural monuments with the number 26–1041 by decision No. 132 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 2 August 2001.

The archaeological monument, located in the Gobustan National Historical‑Archaeological Reserve, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name “Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape” at the XXXI Session of the World Heritage Committee held on 29 June 2007 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Archaeological materials

The stone artifacts uncovered at the camp were mainly made of flint and chert. Among the flint tools, the most common are archaic‑looking, high‑tusked, pointed and notched scrapers made from cores, hook‑shaped tools, as well as implements made from knife‑shaped blades.

Among the finds are 8 cores, 26 scrapers, 12 hook‑shaped tools, 4 segments, 3 trapezoidal tools, as well as bifaces, drills, cutters, tusked and knife‑shaped blades. The cores are mainly conical, prismatic and pencil‑shaped, and are of small size.

Among the chert tools are two‑sided polished oval scrapers, percussion tools, and tools used for striking rock‑art depictions.

In addition, a tool made of camel eye stone, one stone needle, a hanging made of two fish ears, a semi‑finished piece for making a hanging of 68 fish ears, as well as black hardening material (qır) and arrow parts have also been found.

Rock‑surface depictions

During the excavations it was determined that on the north surface of stone number 41 the ancient depictions continue from the previously known level to lower parts.

Eastern side

The length of the eastern side of rock number 42 is 12 m and its height is 6 m. On the lower part of the surface many petroglyphs are carved, some of which are damaged by erosion and in some cases their outlines are difficult to discern. Here 14 depictions are better preserved, including four oxen, five human figures, one boat and two unidentified fragments.

Oxen figures are carved in profile and mainly with their bodies oriented to the left. In illustration 12 the animal is shown in a moving position, its body is stout and heavily built. The figure's length is 110 cm, and its height from the shoulders is 70 cm. The front part of the depiction is given larger, with a thick, massive neck, elongated head, large wavy horns, vertical ears, chest layers, hanging belly, coat and strong legs, round thigh and coat tail clearly shown. This depiction belongs to the 7th millennium BCE. In illustration 14 the ox is depicted standing on its legs. Its body length is 160 cm, and its height from the shoulders is 90 cm. The figure's monolithic and stout structure, thick, root-like neck, elongated head, large wavy horns, vertical ears, chest layers, coat and strong legs, round thigh and hanging tail are described. This depiction also belongs to the 7th millennium BCE. Other ox depictions are heavily damaged by erosion and only some parts of the head and neck are preserved. They belong to the 6th–5th millennia BCE.