Pages: 317-328

Various metal artefacts from archaeological sites of the Middle Bronze Age on the territory of Azerbaijan are considered in the article. Most of the metal artefacts derive from graves, whereas only some of them were found in settlements of this period. The result of spectral analysis of the artefacts can demonstrate that most of them are produced from tin bronze based on local deposits of copper ore. So far deposits of tin have not been uncovered in the Caucasus, that is why this metal comes to the region from foreign sources. It was possible to bring tin on the territory of Azerbaijan by two ways: from the Near East, where trade of tin was developed, as well as from Iran where this raw material was traded to the Near East. Taking into consideration some facts, it seems that development of Middle Bronze Age metallurgy on the territory of modern Azerbaijan was not only economic, but also ritual in nature.

Keywords: Eastern Caucasus, Azerbaijan, Middle Bronze Age, ancient metallurgy, tin bronze, spectral analysis.

Information about author:

Azizahanum Magerram Hasanova (Baku, Azerbaijan). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Javid Pr., 31, Baku, AZ1143, Azerbaijan
E-mail: [email protected]