Archeological site

The prehistoric rock carvings in the Qobustan national park date back to between 5000 and 40000 years ago. The petroglyphs (= rock carvings) were first described by Iskhag Jafarzade in 1939. The first scientific expeditions were organised by A. Bakikhanov in 1940-41, followed by later expeditions in 1947. After 1965 a new expedition discovered about 20 ancient shelters and 40 burial places in Qobustan.
The museum was first set up in 1970. The petroglyphs show scenes with people, wildlife, flora and lifestyles in pre-historic times. Up to now over 6000 rock engravings have been identified. The archaeological site covers an area of 537 ha. The petroglyphs of Qobustan have been a UNESCO World Hertage site since 2007.