ANCIENT SETTLEMENT: LEILATEPE
The Chalcolithic, a name derived from the Greek: χαλκός khalkós, "copper" and from λίθος líthos, "stone" or Copper Age. This period lasted from the second half of the 5th millennium BC to the middle of the 6th millennium BC. The migration of tribes from Mesopotamia to the Karabakh plain, the expansion of relations of local farmer-cattle breeder tribes with neighboring regions, the development of handicraft, funeral customs and other fields are characteristic for the Chalcolithic period of Azerbaijan. The archaeological excavations proved that during this period Leilatepe archaeological culture spread over the territory of Azerbaijan.
During the excavations in the settlements of the Chalcolithic period of Azerbaijan it was revealed that houses were built of adobe (Leilatepe, Berikldeebi) in some monuments, and in the others, there were used clay mixture, rod-braid, stone and half-drilled buildings (Boyuk Kesik, Poylu). In Galayeri settlement, the buildings were made of clay layers. Leilatepe settlement is located in Karabakh, in the territory of Aghdam region, in the plain area between the villages of Khindiristan and Guzanli. The monument consists of a hill with a diameter of 50-60 m and a height of 2 m. Surface materials collected from Leilatepe in the early 1980s showed that it differs from the other Eneolithic monuments in the South Caucasus. Since 1984, the Mil-Karabakh archaeological expedition led by prominent archaeologist Ideal Narimanov has launched stationary research there. An area of 324 square meters has been studied in Leilatepe for several years. Most of the potteries of Leilatepe settlement was made on a potter's wheel. The stone products mainly consist of grain grinders, graters, mortars, and various tools made of obsidian and flint. Bone tools were not typical for Leilatepe. Among the metal items, there was an awl, a piece of a knife and other small items.
UBAID TRIBES IN AZERBAIJAN
The relations between Azerbaijan and Mesopotamia had continued during the Chalcolithic period. The discovery of material samples in the territory of Azerbaijan, which are similar to the materials of the Ubaid culture, confirms this fact. The architectural forms, pottery kilns, and potteries found from the Leilatepe monument in the Karabakh plain are completely different from the local culture that had existed in this area for centuries. Thus, two-necked vessels, jugs with horizontal eyes on their necks, and other similar findings seem alike to material samples found in III Yarimtepe Ubaid settlement of Northern Mesopotamia. All these facts prove that the tribes that had migrated from Mesopotamia in the first half of the 4th millennium BC settled in the Karabakh plain.
POTTERY
One of the most significant achievements of the Chalcolithic period was the production of potteries. Thereby, potter’s wheels were widely used in the manufacture of potteries during this period. The potter’s wheel was first utilized in Western Asia - Mesopotamia and Eastern Anatolia at the end of the 5th millennium BC and the beginning of the 4th millennium BC. As the culture of Leilatepe, in turn, is connected with the other cultures of that region, its bearers popularized this new technology in the production of ceramics in the South Caucasus. Such vessels were made in a high quality and are mostly red. The surface of some vessels was completely covered with greenish ochre with slip. At the same time, there were found pale green, yellow, white and red vessels covered with slip. Traces of a potter’s wheels were kept on the upper parts of the pots.
FUNERAL CUSTOMS
Kurgans, jar burials and ground burials were widespread among cattle breeder tribes during the Chalcolithic period. The tombs of this period include Soyugbulag, Seyidli, Kavtiskhevi and other mounds. Soyugbulag tombs are the most ancient kurgans of Leylatapa culture in the South Caucasus. The grave equipment of these mounds was very few in amount. It mainly consists of a limited number of potteries, microliths and other archaic stone tools. During the Chalcolithic period, especially in the monuments of Leylatapa culture, burial in potteries was also found. Babies were buried in various potteries in the shape of jar, jug, plate and pots. It was determined that the babies died and buried in the jugs were only a few months old or about one year old. Another type of grave belonging to the Leilatepe culture – ground burials were first discovered in 2005 during excavations in II Poylu. Here two such graves were found in the settlement. In both of them, the dead body was buried on the back, the legs were slightly (half-bent) and tightly bent, in the first one, the hands were directed to the shoulders, and in the second one, the hands were in the belt.
TREPANNED SKULL
A small number of interesting findings among the ancient human bone remains consists of skulls with one or more holes on them. These holes were purposefully opened by another person. This type of hole on the skull is called a trepanation hole. In the past, trepanation was one of the widespread customs among many nations. It is possible to get certain ideas about the history of medicine on the basis of trepanned skulls. At the same time, this type of paleoanthropological materials contained the prehistoric religious and philosophical outlook and traditions of the ancient people.
During archeological excavations under the leadership of archaeologist Ideal Narimanov in 1985 in Chalagantepe, north of Afatli village of Aghdam region, a human skeleton with a trepanned skull was found at a depth of 4 m from the oval-shaped ground burial number 27. In that burial, the skeleton was lain down in a bent position. According to preliminary researches, the person buried here was a woman. An ochre was sprinkled on the body which wrapped in a matting.
When it comes to the age of the Chalagantepe skull, it is estimated to be 7,000 years old. Thus, on the basis of the study of charcoal by the radiocarbon method that obtained from Chalagantepe it was idendified that this settlement belongs to the 5th millennium BC.
Another point of interest on the skull is a 2x2 cm hole on it which was a result of trepanation surgery. Traces of the operation could also be observed around the trepanation hole. The trepanation surgery was performed on the vertex with a knife made of obsidian or flint. Most likely, other tools such as bone and copper awls were also used during the operation. The discovery of the above-mentioned tools in Chalagantepe is the main evidence of their usage.
Most researchers say that such operations were carried out for surgical purposes. Calculations show that despite the fact that this type of surgeries was carried out on a living person, most of them were successful, and these people continued to live after the operation. Trepanation surgery could be made for a variety of resons, from ordinary headaches to mental illnesses.
According to another view, the trepanation operation was performed after the death of person. The purpose was to release the "evil force" which was in that person's body, especially in his head. Even the Illinois Indians used to perform trepanation until recently to relieve the spirit of the deceased person. Of course, this can also be associated with religious ideas and beliefs that existed at different times.
The skull with a trepanation hole was found during excavations of the Ismayilbeytepe settlement among the monuments of that period in Azerbaijan. However, the trepannned skull found out from the Ismayilbeytepe monument is distinguished by its two holes and the fact that the patient had lived for a long time after the operation.
