Стр. 30 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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Agstafa DİSTRİCT

The Agstafa district is located in western

Azerbaijan at the base of the Greater Caucasus

range at the boundary between Georgia and

Armenia. The climate of the region is mild.

The largest river in Azerbaijan, the Kur

River, is located in this region along with the

Agstafachay tributary and other small rivers.

Jandargyol Lake is also located in this region.

Due to its favorable geographical location, this

region holds some of the most ancient human

settlements not only in Azerbaijan but also in

the South Caucasus. The area of the region

extends through 3510 hectares and is covered

by woods and “Tugay” forests. The Garayazi

State Reserve spreads across 9658 hectares

and contains some plants and birds on the

Endangered Species List.

Ancient historical monuments from the

Paleolithic Age found in the Agstafa district

confirm that this area was one of the areas of

first human settlement. Based on the discovery

of copper items forged in the 6th-5th centuries

B.C. during archeological digs in the settlements

of the region including Toyrattepe, Shomutepe,

Gargalartepe, and others, agriculture and

breeding cattle helped develop a sedentary

life in this area. Some of the world’s most

significant monuments can currently be seen

in the village of Ashagi Goychali, including

the Toyrattepe settlement from the last Stone

and Bronze Ages and an ancient settlement

including 60 tombstones from the Copper

and first Iron Ages found in the village of Dag

Kesemen.

There are many archaeological and ancient

monuments in this region. Some of the world’s

most valuable ancient monuments can be found

here including the ancient human settlement of

Toyrattepe from the Copper Age located in the

village of Ashagi Goychali and Chobandashli

from the end of the Copper Age and beginning

of the Iron Age found in the village of Dag

Kesemen. Similar monuments can be found

in other villages in the region as well. Some

notable examples include Molla Nagi Tepesi

(Stone Age); Durnatepe, Boyuktepe, and

Shish Guzey Piri (Copper and first Iron Age);

Hacha Dag Piri monuments near the village

of Kochasger (Middle Ages); and the ancient

settlements of Jantepe, Yastitepe, Tatli, Yuxari

Goychali, Hesensu, and Ashagi Goychali

located near the city of Agstafa. The jugs,

necklaces, bowls, vases, and other homegoods

found during archeological digs are held in the

State Ethnography Museum. Other monuments

of interest includ a seventeenth century tower,

the nineteenth century mosques in the village of

Girag Kesemen, Kolkhelpheli, Qarahesen, Dag

Kesemen, and other villages.

There were different types of orchards

in Agstafa and the main occupations of

the indigenous people in this region were

beekeeping and tending vineyards. The warm

climate of the region, which is covered by low

mountains, has an abundance of springs, lakes,

and mineral waters as well as rich soil and

plantscape. The villages located at the base of

the mountain are known for their dense woods.

The Agstafa River played a signficant role in

the economy and agriculture of the region.

Wool and carpets were washed on both banks

of the well-flowing river. The carpets of this

region were distunguished by their bright

colors and ornamental softness. There are

totems and mythological signs found on the

carpets, mafrash, khurjun, and horse covers,

as well as stamps of different tribes. The color

harmony, graphic composition, ornaments,

and weaving styles of the flat weave carpets,

kilim, verni, shedde, and zili are different

from those of other regions. The carpets

woven in Agstafa have specific ornaments and

color compositions. In addition to the large

and small “lakes” and medallions found on

these carpets, “qoshabuynuz,” “dordunsur,”

s-shaped elements, clutch, geometric elements

(like triangles or squares), “gozgaytariji,”

“gaychibaliq,” “gazayagi,” “dilikli,” and other

motifs can be found.

Agstafa carpets have a special and honorable

place in the museums and collections of the

world. The Agstafa carpets became famous

worldwide through the bazaars of Gazakh,

Ganja, and Tbilisi and are distunguished

by their charming compositions and color

harmony. The merchant Ayyub in Agstafa

made great efforts to show and endorse the

uniqueness of these carpets in the bazaar.

Many carpets famous worldwide have

been woven in the villages of Vurgun,

Soyugbulag, Qarayazi, Poylu, Ashagi Kesemen,

Dag Kesemen, Muganli, Yukhari Goychali,

Qarahesenli, Girili, Tatli, Kochesker, and Kohne

Gishlag of the Gazakh district.