METHODS OF STUDYING AND SCIENTIFIC DOCUMENTING OF AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMPLEX GOBUSTAN

Abstract

Gobustan presents a striking example of the organization and transformation of a landscape to ritual space, on the one hand, and with another – to space of constant dwelling, - to the organization which remained during digital time and has created the steady tradition of ancestors which is shown in the signs left by them in a landscape and, in some degree, - in oral tradition. All this complex makes the Cultural Landscape of the Archaeological complex of Gobustan. In 2007 the following cultural values of this complex have been included in the world list of cultural heritage of UNESCO:

• more than 6000 rock carvings
• caves, shelters, ancient settlements and burials
• places of worship - a sanctuary
• a set of the caves and shelters of the different period demonstrating consecutive use of these places within about 15 000 years.

Thus, before us there were problems of documentary fixing of a condition of an object not only at the time of inspection, but also registration of the subsequent changes. For last decades in activity of the Gobustan reserve in the field of maintaining scientific documentation various methods have been used. So, the pioneer of Gobustan archeologist I. Jafarzade in 40-50 yars of the 20th century has recorded and has traced more than 3 500 rock drawings on a tracing-paper. For the purpose of drawing up basic documentation of an archaeological complex Gobustan in 2004 is created the first in Azerbaijan and in the Caucasus digital base of location of petroglyphs, caves, settlements, barrows and burials. Besides methods of tracing have been tested the Norwegian and Siberian experts techniques. And for tracing has been tested by a traditional method for cellophane on Gobustan petroglyphs. Considering specificity of petroglyphs of Gobustan for documenting by the Norwegian expert professor Helskog Cnut the method of night photo fixing of petroglyphs which was very successful was offered. The efficiency of this method was that with use of light and shade it was possible to reveal a figure on the rock which is almost invisible in case of daylight. With development of new information systems and programs there was a real opportunity in creation of the new database, special structure of documentation for saving, a study, documenting and control of a unique monument Gobustan. In recent years the 3D Model became one of the latest and modern methods of documenting of rock drawings of Gobustan. The 3D Model unlike traditional methods gives the chance of fast and more exact documenting. In the field of a study and a concept of a sense of rock drawings in 2015 operations in the Max 3D Studio program were begun that allowed to study landscape and to interpret rock drawings. Radio-carbon dating of occupation layers of caves were necessary for a complete and detail study of petro glyphs of Gobustan. For this purpose since 2010 operations on dating of occupation layers of caves - shelters of Gobustan began. After data acquisition on radio-carbon dating, including AMS-dating and CN analyses from three different laboratories, were begun research works on chronological classification of rock drawings on the planes. Besides the Google Earth programs and 3D Studio Max allowed to give reconstruction of an archaeological landscape of Gobustan during different historical eras. Results of researches were unpredictable. In a complex dating occupation layers on the basis of Radio-carbon dating and comparing with rock drawings and attraction of 3D Model the Tableau and clear vivant of a historical and cultural context of an archaeological complex Gobustan throughout the long historical frames was received.