Soyuqbulaq, Agstafa

Soyuqbulaq, located in the Agstafa Rayon of Azerbaijan, is notable for containing the oldest known kurgan cemetery in Transcaucasia, dating back to the early fourth millennium BCE. The site is a significant representation of the Leylatepe archaeological culture, which is believed to have migrated from the Near East into the South Caucasus. This migration influenced the development of the Maikop Culture in the North Caucasus. Artifacts such as pottery, stone and bone tools, metal objects, and figurines provide insights into the material culture of this ancient civilization. The area also shows early evidence of metallurgy, with the use of copper alloys and early examples of silver. The site's findings underscore the cultural connections between Mesopotamian traditions and those of the South Caucasus during the Late Eneolithic period.