Gobustan is a low-mountainous submountain area of the south-eastern spurs of the Great Caucasus, extending to the west and south-west of the Absheron peninsula and situated in 60 km from Baku. In Azeri “Gobu” means beam. From here is the name of Gobustan – the land of beams and ravines. Its absolute height is up to 1047 m (m. Hijani), and ridged hilly relief in plicate structures is made of argillo-arenaceous type, marls and limestones. Semidesert landscape is dominant. Winter pastures.
More than 6000 ancient drawings were found out on the mountains of Gobustan, which were describing spiritual and material culture of ancestry of the azeri people. Here were also found ancient housing objects – 20 caves and sites, 40 burial mounds and more than 100 000 material culture goods. The most ancient drawings date from epoch of Mezolit, but it’s supposed, there was life here before, too. Therefore, Gobustan is considered as one of civilization cradles.
Research of Gobustan monuments began from 1939-1940 and still continues. The complex of monuments has universal importance as a unique collection of drawings, archeological materials and monuments of life activity of the primitive people. The origins of artwork, painting, dramatic art, dance and other kinds of art of the azeri people, originates in Gobustan collection of monuments.
Rock drawings are followed from Gobustan to the North – along Caspian Sea coast, to Baku and further in Absheron.
Part of drawings was carved at that time when the climate of Gobustan was likely tropic and the landscape had savanna nature with rich flora and fauna. The abundance of water and food promoted variety of animate nature. On rock paintings you can observe the drawings of animals, lived here in the Paleolith epoch - fishes, bulls, gigantic deer, coats, rhinoceroses, tigers and so on. The drawings of fishes are found on the rocks of Gobustan and date from X-IX millenniums B.C. Fish images were incarnation of definite deities of Zaratushtra pantheon. One can find fish drawings in the facades of Absheron houses, on coins, minted in Baku by Shirvanshahlar. People explain it with old traditions. Having dreamt about fish the inhabitant of Absheron interprets this dream as a sign of wealth. Evidently, the cult of fish concerns old worships of Absheron and likely to symbolize the deity of sea. One can also find here drawings of birds, snakes, lizards and various insects.
Rock drawings concern various epochs and date from the X –VIII millenniums B.C. up to Middle Ages. They take high place among the other rock collections of the world by the comprehension of such a long historical period. For Gobustan are characteristic man and woman paintings. Silhouette drawings of people with almost natural size concern most ancient epochs and date from early period of Neolit (VIII millennium B. C.). Men were depicted as a hunter with bows and arrows. They are tall, with belted slim bodies and mature muscular system. Man figures are mainly in loin-cloths and some woman figures were adorned with tattoo. Such paintings of people are characteristic for tropic countries and Oceania.
The silhouette drawings of people were followed by contour paintings of wild bulls, painted in natural size – the length of some reaches 240 cm and height 140 cm. Large and also some diminished contour paintings of wild bulls and small drawings of people, armed with bows date from the VII – IV millennium B.C. when hunting was very important for people. Numerous paintings of goitered gazelles, wild goats, deer, wild pigs, horses, lions and other animals date from late period. Concerning the period from the VI-III millennium up to B. C. of the Middle Ages, they attract attention with their proportions, dynamism.
Besides ancient drawings, Latin inscription is also remarkable, which was found at the bottom of the mountain Boyukdash in Gobustan. It concerns the I century A.D. between 84 and 96 years and testifies to stay of Roman troops near Baku:
Imp Domitiano
Caesarea vg
Germanic
L Julius
Maximus
Leg XII Ful.
In translation from Russian it means “Period of the emperor Domitsian Caesar August Germansky, Lutsy Julius Maxim, Senturion of the XII flash-like legion.” In the second part of the IV century the Latin author Evtropy notes that Domitsian did four campaigns and during one of them his legion was destroyed with its commander. Evidently, just the same troop of the XII legion, which was destroyed by local people Absheron is mentioned here, in these Gobustan inscriptions.
It is possible that the name of the village of Ramana or Roman testifies stay of Roman troops in Absheron in the I century. The name of the city of Ramana in Asia Minor, mentioned in the XIII century by Bar Ebrey is also likely to relate to roman conquest. Disposition of Roman troops in Gobustan points to availability of the large settlement or city, that might be Baku at that time and where probably Roman troops made their way.
One can also find inscriptions, carved in Arabian alphabet, dated from XII-XIV centuries. On the 9th of September , 1966 according to the resolution of the Council of Ministers of Azerbaijan, № 503 Gobustan reserve was organized in the south - east of Gobustan massive of the Great Caucasus, in the area of 4400 hectares. The reserve is under the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan.
Gobustan is the most popular hidtorical-artistic reserve in the world, activity aim of which is protection, research and propaganda of rock drawings, burial mounds and housing objects, dated from the Mesolit epoch (VIII millennium B.C.) to Middle Ages.
Every year thousands tourists and guests of the republic visit Gobustan. The interest of scientific circles in Azerbaijan and foreign countries in unique Gobustan monuments is increasing year by year.
Visit to Gobustan, the popular reserve of the world, unique museum, occupied the vast territory in the open air, is included in the international tourist routes.