Relationships Between the South Caucasus and Near East: Archaeological Evidence from Bülövkaya, Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30546/679523.2.2025.009Keywords:
Near East, South Caucasus, Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan, Dalma Tepe, Ubaid cultureAbstract
Recent archaeological discoveries at Bülövkaya reveal a complex pattern of local cultural development shaped by long-distance interactions with neighbouring regions. Evidence from the Kültepe I settlement indicates that Halaf-style pottery, originating in northern Mesopotamia, had already reached Nakhchivan by the Neolithic period, suggesting early cultural connections with the broader Near East. These interregional ties persisted into the Chalcolithic period, but the material culture of Nakhchivan also developed distinctive local characteristics. For example, Dalma Tepe-type pottery, originally associated with the Urmia Basin in northwestern Iran, has also been identified at Nakhchivan Tepe. At Bülövkaya, the ceramics assemblage reflects the Ubaid culture, which originated in southern Mesopotamia. The presence of Dalma Tepe-style ceramics in Nakhchivan supports the view that one of the defining features of the Dalma Tepe Culture, typically associated with the Urmia Basin and northern Mesopotamia, is the use of impressed pottery. In contrast, painted wares from the Urmia Basin are classified as Dalma painted ceramics. However, the Dalma tradition itself appears to have been influenced by the Ubaid culture, indicating overlapping cultural spheres. The discovery of Ubaid-style pottery at Bülövkaya confirms the northward diffusion of Ubaid cultural elements into the South Caucasus. At the same time, the absence of Dalma Tepe-style impressed pottery at specific sites in the Urmia Basin and at Bülovkaya suggests the emergence of distinct cultural traditions in these areas, shaped by both local conditions and external influences. The use of obsidian sourced from the South Caucasus and Eastern Anatolia by communities at Bülövkaya highlights the importance of resource zones in facilitating mobility and interregional interaction.
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