EXCAVATIONS AT THE DERBENT SETTLEMENT IN 2021

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32653/CH203740-759

Keywords:

Derbent, Chor, Sasanian era, architecture, ceramics

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of the 2021 Derbent archaeological expedition at excavation area XXV, established in 2012 within the Derbent settlement dating from the 1st to 6th centuries AD. The excavations revealed upper layers 1 and 2, dating to the 5th-6th centuries AD, and fully uncovered rooms 10 and 11 of a housing and utility complex. Previous dating of this complex to the 5th – early 6th centuries was based on individual finds (chronological markers) and ceramic assemblages. The investigation determined that rooms 10 and 11 were originally a single rectangular space, later divided by a constructed wall that intersected a storage pit in the center of the original room. The room walls, composed of rubble and minimally processed stone with clay mortar, measure 45–55 cm in width and stand at a maximum preserved height of 68–95 cm. Wall 4, measuring 65–75 cm in thickness, serves as the eastern wall of room 10 and rooms 1–7. Extending 33 m, this outermost wall of the settlement is situated on a slope facing the Caspian Plain and likely served a defensive function. Room 10 (4.8 × 3.75 m) features a stone slab and rock pavement, suggesting a non-residential purpose. Room 11 (5.06 × 4.85 m) contains remnants of three wall-mounted clay ovens of the traditional two-chamber koryuk type, used for cooking food and baking bread. These ovens were located in a partitioned area with adjacent clay floors. The absence of clay flooring in the rest of room 11 indicates that small clay platforms were constructed in front of the ovens, while the remaining floor area consisted of leveled soil. The location of this excavation area in the southeastern part of the settlement holds significant promise for future investigations of the Derbent settlement, which predates Derbent founded in the late 560s.

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Author Biographies

  • Murtazali Serazutdinovic Gadziev, The Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Daghestan Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences
    Bio Statement: Doctor of History, Professor ( Archaeology), Head of Department (Archaeology of Daghestan & Caucasus) Researcher Focus: archeology, history, historical geography, military and political history of the Caucasus, the ancient and early medieval times, the problem of formation of the city and the early class society, the defensive architecture and military history of Sasanian Iran, history, archeology and culture of Caucasian Albania.
  • Arsen Lahmanovic Budajciev, Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography, Daghestan Federal Research Center of RAS
    Researcher, Dept. of Archaeology
  • Abdula Magomedovic Abdulaev, Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography, Daghestan Federal Research Center of RAS
    Associate Scientist, Dept. of Archaeology

References

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Gadjiev MS. Derbent settlement: some results of excavation (2012–2016). Russian Foundation for Basic Research Journal. Humanities and social sciences. 2017, 2(87): 155-163. (In Russ)

Gadjiev MS., Abiev AK., Budaichiev AL., Abdulaev AM., Shaushev KB. Excavation of Derbent settlement. Archaeological discoveries of 2014. 2016: 220-223. (In Russ)

Gadjiev MS., Budaichiev AL., Abdulaev AM. The latest researches of the Derbent settlement of the first half – mid. of the 1st mill. AD. Dagestan v kavkazskom istoriko-kul’turnom prostranstve. Materialy Mezhdunarodnoj nauchnoj konferencii, posvyashennoj 90-letiyu Instituta istorii, arheologii i etnografii DNC RAN. Mahachkala, 21–22 oktyabrya 2014 g. Makhachkala, 2014: 94-95. (In Russ)

Gadjiev MS., Budaichiev AL., Abdulaev AM., Shaushev KB. Excavation of Derbent settlement in 2012–2015. Studying and preservation of archaeological heritage of the people of the Caucasus. XXIX Krupnovsky readings. Proceedings of the International scientific conference. Grozny, April 18–21, 2016. Grozny: Chechen State University, 2016: 139-140. (In Russ)

Gadjiev MS., Abiev AK., Budaichiev AL., Abdulaev AM., Shaushev KB. Excavations of Derbent settlement. Archaeological discoveries of 2015. 2017: 259-260. (In Russ)

Gadjiev MS., Abiev AK., Budaichiev AL., Abdulaev AM., Shaushev KB. Excavations of Derbent settlement. Archaeological discoveries of 2016. 2018: 268-269. (In Russ)

Gadjiev MS., Abiev AK., Budaichiev AL., Abdulaev AM. Excavation of Derbent settlement. Archaeological discoveries of 2017. 2018: 292-293. (In Russ)

Gadjiev MS., Budaichiev AL., Abiev AK., Abdulaev AM. The latest research of the Derbent settlement: seasons 2016, 2017, 2019. In: Gadjiev M.S. (ed.). The XXXIst Krupnov’s Readings. Archaeological Heritage of the Caucasus: Topical Problems of Study and Preservation. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the Krupnov’s Readings and the 50th Anniversary of the Derbent Archaeological Expedition. Makhachkala, April 20–25, 2020. Makhachkala: Mavraev, 2020: 312-315. (In Russ)

Gadjiev MS., Abiev AK., Budaichiev AL., Abdulaev AM. Excavation of Derbent settlement. Archaeological discoveries of 2019. 2022: 311-313. (In Russ)

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Published

2024-09-15

Issue

Section

Expedition

How to Cite

1.
Gadziev MS, Budajciev AL, Abdulaev AM. EXCAVATIONS AT THE DERBENT SETTLEMENT IN 2021. ИАЭК. 2024;20(3):740-759. doi:10.32653/CH203740-759