Research has begun in the fortress where the existence of the Shirvanshah state ended - PHOTO
The Shamakhi archeological expedition led by Akif Guliyev, head of the Numismatics and Epigraphy Department of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, has begun archeological excavations at the legendary Bugurt Fortress, the last residence of Shirvan judges near the village of Galaderasi.
Earlier, the Shamakhi Archaeological Expedition of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of ANAS carried out archeological research in Gulustan fortress and obtained important results on the history of Gulustan fortress and Shirvanshah state in general on the basis of archeological materials.
The study of Bugurt fortress was started by archeologist Huseyn Jiddi in the 70s of the last century.
This year, the Shamakhi Archaeological Expedition of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of ANAS resumed archeological research in Bugurt fortress after a 50-year break.
Bugurt fortress is located 20 kilometers north-west of Shamakhi, on the top of a high mountain covered with forest on all sides. Due to its strategic importance, it is impossible to see the fortress, which has a favorable position, even at the closest distance. Around the castle are the villages of Galaderasi, Kechmedin and Galeybugurt. The main roads to the fortress pass through the village of Galaderasi. To the east of Bugurt Fortress, on the steep cliffs, there is a small castle called Maiden's Fortress.
There is no exact information about the date of construction of the tower. Archaeological excavations will clarify this issue.
According to archeologist A. Guliyev, this is not an ordinary fortress, but a medieval fortress-city with extensive infrastructure. The castle had a perfect water-sewage system, numerous residential buildings, administrative buildings, palaces, mosques, reservoirs, baths in accordance with the relief. The walls of the fortress were built of large rocks and river stones. Stairs were built between the walls of the double fortress for the guards to move freely. The walls of the fortress are domed. This did not allow the enemy to monitor the movement of guards.
The total area of the castle is 17 hectares. It is estimated that about 30,000 people lived in the area, including the castle-city complex. Residential houses were located mainly in the lower part of the fortress. The buildings are built of hewn rock and river stones, baked bricks.
In accordance with the stepped relief, there were also small backyards of houses built on parallel streets.
Bugurt fortress was captured and destroyed by Safavid Shah Tahmasib I in 1538, the last Shirvanshah Shahrukh was captured and killed. This put an end to the existence of the millennial state of Shirvanshahs.