Gobustan Rock Art, Prehistoric rock art site near Baku, Azerbaijan.
Gobustan Rock Art is a site with thousands of engravings scattered across volcanic hills, depicting hunting, daily activities, and ritual scenes from ancient times. The location also features a modern museum that explains the meaning and context of these carvings.
The carvings developed over roughly 40,000 years, starting in the Stone Age and extending through the Middle Ages. This long timespan shows that people lived continuously in this Caucasus region for many thousands of years.
The engravings show people dancing, hunting, and traveling by boat, offering a window into how early inhabitants lived and spent their time. These scenes remain visible today and connect modern visitors directly to ancient daily routines.
The site is best explored by following marked paths across the hills to view the main carvings. It helps to wear comfortable shoes and set aside time for the museum, which provides context for understanding the engravings better.
A stone at the location produces musical tones when struck, showing that people here understood the acoustic properties of natural materials long ago. This natural feature is often overlooked by visitors, yet it offers a fascinating glimpse into early human curiosity and experimentation.
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