Nakhchivan culture

The first time that samples of painted pottery culture were discovered in Azerbaijan was in the territory of Nakhchivan, in 1895. In the result of the land work around Kizilveng cemetery located 18 km away from Nakhchivan, 3 km south of Tazakand, on the left bank of the Araz River, several historical items, including simple and painted dishes were revealed from the stone box graves. In 1934, several painted dishes were found near the Shortepe settlement in Sharur. Excavations continued in the 1960s, painted pottery of Kultepe II, as well as Guruchay and Kondelenchay river basins were investigated. Scraps of painted dishes were found in Karakopektepe. == Characteristics ==

Archaeologists divided this culture chronologically into four periods: == Material remains ==

Painted pots were already represented in the ceramics of Nakhchivan's variant of the widespread Kura–Araxes culture that preceded Nakhchivan culture. In general, red on clay pots have been found in Azerbaijan since the Eneolithic period. Except a group of painted pots, the rest of them didn't differ from other eneolithic group pots by their clay content or the technology of preparation. == Relations with other cultures ==

Encountering similar painted vessel patterns of Nakhchivan were found in the Van and Urmia Lake basin, northeastern Anatolia, and the Mil-Mugan plains around Goyche indicates that these regions shared a mutual culture. There were many common features among polychrome pottery from Kultepe II and pottery remains from the Urmia monuments of Haftavān-Tepe and Geoy Tepe. The Middle Chalcolithic painted bowl found in the Shortepe also reminisced the Halaf and Ubaid traditions because of influence of these culture. Drawings depicted on the Nakhchivan's painted pottery symbolized worship tradition (Lullubi tribes). The 8 corners star drawing on a pot found in the Nehecir necropolis was similar to the star description on the Victory Monument of the Lullubi ruler Anubani. There were many similarities between the dress of the goddess depicted on Anubani's Victory Monument and the woman's dress on the Kızılburun painted pitcher. == See also ==