Azerbaijan Oil: Dawn of Offshore Development

The commissioning of Neft Dashlari (Oil Rocks), the unique city on pilings, marked the beginning of the development of the offshore oil industry in Azerbaijan in 1949.

It was the first experience in offshore oil production in the world. At the same time, there was the development of the oil sciences and engineering in Azerbaijan, which was and remains one of the leading centers in the world. Azerbaijan oilworkers participated in the development of the oil sector not only within the former USSR, but also abroad.

During this period, offshore exploration expanded, a number of oil and gas fields were discovered and commissioned (including Gum-Deniz, Sangachal-Divanni-Deniz-Khara-Zira island, Bulla-Deniz, and Darwin pitcher, and offshore drilling, including exploration drilling), the technique and technology of hydrotechnological oil plants and the infrastructure of offshore oil production was developed.

At the same time, a number of new onshore oil and gas fields were discovered and commissioned (Kurovdag, Mishovdag, Kursanga, Garabaghly, Galmaz, Garabagh and others). That era was characterized by the intensive development and operations at the Neft Dashlari and other fields. Also, an offshore field was established on the Estacada in the open sea for the first time in the world. Further, engineering, scientific and technical measurement caused an inflow of capital into the country, improved productivity through the saving of metals and led to a decline in the prices of oil.

Background
Oil production from its existing fields began to decline after World War II, as a result of catastrophic over-production coupled with under investment. However, it was felt that the real potential for new discoveries was to be found offshore.
As far back as the mid-19th century, the first offshore oil explorations were carried out in Azerbaijan. In 1864, academician G.V. Abikh surveyed and documented oil structures present on the Caspian seabed.

In the early 1930s, engineers proposed construction of offshore wells timber piles, connected by a causeway, and the first such well was laid in the open sea at a depth of 6 meters to the east from Bibi-Heybet bay.
In 1945, oil engineers S.A. Orujev and Y. Safarov proposed a method of tubular collapsible construction for offshore bases. This construction enabled the quick installation of under oil-rigs during any season. In 1947 a group of oilmen developed the trestle method of linking development rigs and processing facilities. The average height of trestles above sea level is 5-7 meters and the width of causeways was about 3.5 meters. In 1948, construction of trestles and other causeways started on Pirallahi and Oil Rocks.

Oil Rocks Saga
One of the striking examples for offshore oil deposit development is "Oil Rocks" - "Neft Dashlari". It is located to the southeast of Absheron Archipelago. In "Oil Rocks" the sea depth ranges from 10 to 25 meters, though part of the oil pool reaches a depth of 60 meters. Oil prospecting with a geological survey, structure drilling, seismic prospecting and preliminary drilling began in 1945.

On August 24, 1949 the first offshore exploration well at Neft Dashlari (Oil Rocks) was drilled after the causeway was built. In November, at a depth of 1,000 meters, the well N1 tested oil at a rate of 700 bpd. Neft Dashlari is referred to as "The Island of Seven Ships" because during construction of the bridge-head, disabled ships were sunk to provide a solid base for causeways.

Following this, full-scale development began in 1950. Development from multiple drilling sites connected by trestle bridges also employed deviated holes. In 1953, to maintain reservoir pressure, water flooding was begun. Today, after 50 years in use, the field is still delivering about 15,000 bpd.






Azerbaijan Oil: Soviet Era

The Soviet Era began in 1920 after the nationalization of the oil industry of Azerbaijan and covers the period until the country gained independence in 1991.

In 1920, when the Bolsheviks captured Azerbaijan, all private property - including oil wells and factories - were confiscated. All oil assets in the country were nationalized and the Azneft State company was formed.

After the occupation, Azerbaijan’s entire oil industry was directed toward the needs of the Soviet Union, including a tremendous output of oil for the Soviet war effort during World War II.

In 1920, only 1800 qualified specialists worked in Russia’s oil industry, of which 1232 were assigned to work in Azerbaijan. The industry urgently needed technology, education and specialists. A scientific exchange was begun with the US, where visitors from Baku were transferred to oil fields in Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, California, and Texas to learn new methods of well drilling and production. The Azerbaijan State Oil Academy was established in 1920 to train oil specialists.

The production of oil was reduced to 2.4 million tons in 1921. As part of the second stage, due to the increase in exploration works, a number of new oil fields were discovered (especially Gala, Buzovna-Mashtagha and others) and oil production reached 23.6 million tons in 1941, thus making up 76% of the total amount of oil production in the USSR. Due to that, S.A Vezirov (chief of Azerneftcombinat), R.H. Ismayilov (chief of the association, Azneftzavodlar), B.Q. Baba-zade (head geologist of Azizbeyneft), R. Ragimov (master of drilling), became the first oilmen to be awarded the title of the Heroes of Socialist Labor. Due to the removal of oil equipment and oil specialists to eastern Soviet regions (Tatarstan, Turkmenistan, Bashkiria and others) during the war of 1941-1945, Azerbaijan accounted for 11.1 million tons of oil production.

Well No 1, drilled to 942 meters in depth, was commissioned with the hope of producing 100 tons of oil a day at Neft Dashlary on November 7, 1949, thus laying the foundation for offshore oil production. Agha Gurban Aliyev was the first geologist assigned to the well.

Advancement in drilling and logging practices
In 1925, for the first time in Russia, Baku engineer M.M. Skvortsov built a device for the automatic movement of a chisel, which became known as the "automatic driller". By 1930, electrical logging tools were used in the well-bore by Schlumberger in the Surakhany oil field.

A new technology in drilling was introduced in Baku: electrical aggregates with exact control of the number of rotations came into widespread use. By the early 1930s about one-third of well stocks were operated with pumps using gas lift. In 1933, the first deviated well was drilled in the Bibi-Heybat field.

Other firsts were:
- 1936 saw the beginning of the industrial application of the multi-stepped turbo drill without a reducer, which had been invented by Shumilov, Taghiyev and others.
- For the first time in the world, an oil well was drilled by the electro-drilling construction method which was introduced by engineers Ostrovsky, Aleksandrov and others in Kala oil field


Oilworkers’ heroism in World War II
During the first year of the war, Azerbaijan produced 25.4 million tons of oil - a record. Azerbaijani oil made up three-fourths of the total oil production in the Soviet Union.

By the Decree of the USSR Supreme Council in February 1942, the commitment of more than 500 workers and employees of the oil industry of Azerbaijan was recognized by the issuing of orders and medals of the USSR.

By the end of the year, so many engineers and oil workers had left for the war front that positions had to be filled by women. By the summer of 1942 more than 25,000 women, or 33% of all workers, were on the job in 18 hour shifts in the oil industries. At refineries and chemical plants, the percentage of women was even higher, estimated at 38%. By 1944, women's participation had grown to 60%. Veterans and retirees also returned to the oil fields to help.

Hitler was determined to capture the oil fields of the Caucasus, in particular Baku, as it would provide much needed oil-supplies for the German military, which was suffering due to blockades. The 1942 German offensive, codenamed Case Blue, saw a determined attempt to seize the oil fields in a large scale advance into the area, but Axis forces were surrounded and eventually defeated at Stalingrad, forcing a retreat from the region.

As a result of catastrophic over-production and under investment, Azerbaijani oil production began to decline after World War II.



Baku: The Capital Of Islamic Culture
The Year of Culture, “Baku: The Capital of Islamic Culture-2009”, which served to promote the Azerbaijani capital in the Muslim world and beyond with a wide range of events, will close on December 15 following a solemn ceremony at the Heydar Aliyev Palace.
Baku, an ancient city which has historically been the crossroads of world civilizations, was granted the title at the fifth Islamic conference of culture ministers held in Tripoli, Libya November 21-23, 2007. Participants at that meeting also decided to hold the next ministerial in Baku.
On December 29-31, 2001, the Islamic states’ culture ministers who gathered in Doha, Qatar for their third conference adopted a resolution approving the preliminary “Capitals of Islamic Culture” program, which had been proposed by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO). According to the resolution, every year ISESCO was to select three cities among those bidding from the members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) -- one city each from the Arab states, Asian and African countries. At that conference, it was decided to name Mecca the first capital of Islamic culture.
Further, ISESCO developed a concept for the program and, following Mecca, a proposal was made to name 30 Arab, Asian and African cities as capitals of Islamic culture over a period of ten years. The fourth Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, held in Algeria on December 15-17, 2004, endorsed the program of the Capitals of Islamic Culture for the period 2005-2014.
As part of this program, cities chosen to bear the honorary title have to possess remarkable history on a countrywide and regional scale and stand out for their contribution to science, art and literature representing importance for both Islamic and world culture. The requirements for successful bidders also include running scientific research centers, manuscript libraries, archaeological training centers, and institutions individually and jointly organizing cultural events.
Since the beginning of 2009, a slew of events representing tremendous importance and drawing public attention have been held as part of the Year of Culture, “Baku: The Capital of Islamic Culture-2009.” The first event took place on January 1. Gifted students, teachers and men of art who contributed to the city’s recognition were honored with ISESCO awards.
The official opening ceremony of the Year of Culture was held at the Heydar Aliyev Palace on February 18 and attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and member of parliament. Also participating were ISESCO Director General Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, OIC Assistant Secretary-General Atta al-Mannan Bakhit, four ministers and deputy ministers from Islamic states, as well as representatives of international organizations, the capitals of European culture, Linz, and Houston, Baku’s sister city.
President Aliyev said during the ceremony that Azerbaijan continues contributing to Islamic unity, despite being a newly independent state.
“Azerbaijan should strive to bring Islamic states closer by its policies and actual measures, because Islamic states are in need of this,” Aliyev said.
The president noted that Muslim countries should support each other in all areas. “Unity of these countries on the international stage is important for peace and security in the world.”
The Azerbaijani leader went on to denounce the destructive actions of neighboring Armenia, which has occupied part of Azerbaijan’s territory for nearly two decades.
“Historical monuments, mosques and museums in the Azerbaijani land under Armenian occupation have been destroyed. Azerbaijan is unable to protect the cultural and historical monuments in these territories. The destruction of historical monuments there has been noted by international observers, as well. Undoubtedly, after our land is freed, Azerbaijan will restore these destroyed historical and cultural monuments. But for this to happen, the Upper Garabagh conflict must be settled and Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity ensured.”
ISESCO’s Director General Altwaijri told the ceremony that his organization condemns the destruction of Azerbaijan’s historical monuments in the occupied territories, urging the world community to prevent such actions.
The Year of Culture featured over 70 functions, including conferences, a grand festival and scientific symposeums dedicated to Islamic culture. Further, the Advisory Council on the cultural strategy of the Islamic world held its ninth meeting in Baku, as well. The activities also included an international conference, “Historical cities and modern architecture of Islamic countries”, and an info-tour of Azerbaijan for a group of representatives of Jordan and Morocco’s tourism companies, as well as the media. Also, among the events held in Baku were the International Mugham (folk music) Festival, the Week of Uzeyir Music, dedicated to the National Music Day which is marked on the birthday anniversary date of the great Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibayov, who was the founder of Azerbaijan’s classical music and the author of the first-ever Oriental opera. Moreover, “Tuesday” events and festivities devoted to the Novruz Holiday have been held. In addition, “Ashiq music anthology” CDs, made in cooperation with France’s Maison des Cultures du Monde Association which promote the art of unique Azerbaijani poetry, dance and music, as well as the “Baku: The Capital of Islamic Culture” website were premiered.




History of Azerbaijan Culture

The heritage, culture, and civilization of Azerbaijan have both ancient and modern roots. The Azerbaijanis are believed to have inherited traits from various ancient civilizations.

Azerbaijan’s culture is rooted in ancient times and recorded in petroglyphs on the rocks of Gobustan outside Baku, Gamigaya in Nakhchivan and on the Dalidag mountain in Kalbajar. Other history has been set down in archaic ceramics of neolith and epochs of bronze, bronze ornaments and utensils, products made of gold and silver found in numerous ancient burial grounds and settlements.

The ancient cults (animism, ancestors' cult, and others) in Azerbaijan were replaced by the Zoroastrian religion in the middle of the first millennium BC. Being one of the most ancient religions on the planet, it contains the concept of duality ruling the world (Good and Evil, Ahuramazda and Ahriman), and so one of the main spiritual duties of the Zoroastrian worshipper was the duty of Choice. One of the important holidays was Novruz, which is interpreted as a New Day and means a new day approaching due to the victory of Good over Evil. Novruz lost its meaning as a Zoroastrian holiday as the centuries passed and today there is the holiday of spring in the day of the Spring equinox on March 21 in Azerbaijan. It is a cheerful holiday that is celebrated for several weeks. Further, people use recipes from ritual dishes and sweets which have been handed down over the millennia.

In the Middle Ages, a number of cities emerged as the main cultural, political, administrative and trading centers. Such cities in Azerbaijan included Shamakhi, Ganja, Baku, Barda, Sheki, Tabriz, Nakchivan, Shabran, Ardabil, Maraga, Gabala, Beylagan and others. Medieval authors called Azerbaijan the country of one hundred cities. By the fifth century AD Caucasian Albania already had its own written alphabet. Albanian educator Musa Kalankatu wrote “The Agwan History” in the 7th century AD and the Albanian poet Davdak wrote the poem “On The Death of Grand Duke Javanshir”.

In late 7th - early 8th centuries, when the great bulk of the town population adopted Islam, a new culture emerged and the Albanian alphabet was replaced with Arabic. Muslim educational institutions, mektebs or madrasa, where Arabic was taught alongside with the Koran, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, philosophy and other subjects spread throughout the country. Construction projects were ongoing throughout the country during both the Albanian period and afterwards. Many cult buildings (churches, mosques), bridges, castles, fortresses, irrigation projects appeared during the 11-12th centuries, marking a renaissance in Azerbaijan.

This epoch brought together poets, thinkers, architects such as the philosopher Bakhmanyar, historian Masud Ibn Namdar, architect Abubakr Ajami, poetess Mahsati Ganjavi and the great poet and philosopher Nizami Ganjavi, poet and thinker Khagani and others. At this particular time, the Turk-Oghuz epos Kitab-i-Dede Gorgud was finally created; chess, backgammon and the chovgan game of polo were wide-spread games of entertainment. Almost in each town a zorkhana, a wrestling hall or gym, was available to the public. Thanks to that period, we enjoy such striking architectural achievements as the fortifications of Baku, the Maiden Tower, the mausoleums of Nakhchivan, kanegah on the river Pirsaat and many other monuments.

The intensive development of culture proceeded further from the 13th -15th centuries despite wars and invasions. Such masterpieces of poetry as Divan, the assembly of verses by the poet Hasanoglu, Kissa and Yussuf by the poet Ali were created in the Azerbaijani language. A large observatory was built under the sponsorship and planning of the great Azerbaijani astronomer, scientist and philosopher Nasreddin Tusi, who was considered a mentor by many subsequent astronomers from the Muslim period, including Ulugbek. The Observatory was equipped with devices, previously unknown to science, designed by Tusi himself. At that time the musicians Safiaddin Urmavi and Abdulgadir Maragahi created the original and unparalleled musical system.

The culture of this epoch is distinguished by such outstanding personalities as Imamaddin Nasimi, Badr Shirvani, Abdurrashid Bakuvi, Seyid Yahya Bakuvi, philosophers and poets. The famous historian Rashidaddin and others lived at that time. Many of the celebrated personalities - poets, mathematicians, philosophers - developed high principles of Sufi philosophy that were frequently concealed by love lyrics. Such Sufi philosophers as Nasimi and Bakuvi enriched the culture of universal values.

During the epoch of Safavids (16th century) the art of miniature and calligraphy received a new impetus. One of the most known schools of miniature in the East, the Tabriz school, and its brightest representative, Sultan Mohammed (16th century), flourished at that time. Mohammed Fizuli's (1494-1556) poem, Leili and Majnun, became the poetic pinnacle. Spoken folk poetry also developed. The epos Koroglu was very popular in the region and the person portrayed as the legendary folk hero was so popular that now there are several presumed places claiming to have been his famed fortress Chanlibel.

During the Middle Ages crafts, including glazed ceramics, metal wares, colored glassworks, art of carpet weaving, embroidery and tapestry, rapidly developed in Azerbaijan. Those goods were widely exported, and remarkable samples are today kept in the leading museums of the world (the Hermitage, the Louvre, Topgapy, Victoria and Albert Museum, Metropolitan Museum and others).

The reputation of local craftsmen allowed them to often be invited to work in other countries, and during wars they were forcibly removed from the country. For example, Azerbaijani builders, copper-smiths, calligraphers and architects participated in the construction of many architectural masterpieces in Samargand, Shakhrisabz, Iraq and India.

After Azerbaijan had become a part of the Russian Empire, an era of strong European cultural influence began. It was reflected in fine arts, architecture, literature, education and other areas. In the 19th century, the first scientific research of the history of Azerbaijan from the medieval ages was undertaken as Gulistan-i-Iram by Bakikhanov appeared. At the same time, Mirza Fatali Akhundov (1812-1878), the founder of the Azerbaijan's drama and modern Azerbaijan literature, became known for his realistic novels and dramas. In 1874 the first newspaper in Azerbaijani language, Ekinchi, was published. The publisher of the newspaper was well-known educator Hasan bey Zardabi.

In March 1873 the first theatre performance in the Azerbaijani language took place, and in 1866 the first grammar school, and later in 1864 the first female grammar school, were opened in Baku. From the 19th to early 20th centuries a number of newspapers and magazines were published in Azerbaijani, including the Hummet, Takammul, as well as in Russian, the Bakinski Rabochi and Kaspi. The satiric magazine, Molla Nasreddin, published by writer J. Mammadguluzadeh, was met with great success. Some outstanding personalities were assisting with the magazine, including well-known artist-caricaturist Azim Azimzadeh, poet-satirist M.A.Sabir, and poet Aligulu Gamkyusar etc.

Opening night for the first national opera, Leyli and Majnun by composer Uzeyir Hajibayov, took place on January, 12, 1908. On October 25, 1913, the first night of the national comedy Arshin mal alan stole the hearts of the public. Outstanding masters of the national theatrical stage of that period were Huseyn Arablinski, Huseyngulu Sarabski, Mirza Aga Aliyev and Sidgi Ruhulla. During the same period, a basis for modern fine arts in Azerbaijan was created. Its founders were artists Bakhruz Kangarli and Azim Azimzadeh. Architects Ploshko, Skibinski, Goslavski, and Ahmedbey Ziverbayov built such remarkable projects as the present Puppet Theatre, City Hall of Baku, Museum of History, Museum of Arts, National Academy of Sciences, Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Juma Mosque in Shamakhi, and other buildings.

The Soviet period in Azerbaijan brought on such new directions as constructivism and found reflection in the architecture of Baku (Shyusev and Vesnin brothers) that led to the building of the former Azerneshr and other buildings in the city. The national school of architecture was developed under the creative impact of Useynov, Dadashev, Gasimzadeh, Ismaylov, and Shulgin.

Such poets, writers and dramatists as Huseyn Javid, Mikayil Mushfig, Abbas Sahhat, Yusif Chamanzaminli, Mammadseyid Ordubadi, Jafar Jabbarli and others enriched the national literature of Azerbaijan. Such composers as Gara Garayev, Niyazi, Fikret Amirov and Arif Melikov greatly influenced the development of modern national musical culture. Also, such composers and jazz musicians as Vagif Mustafazadeh, Aziza Mustafazadeh, Rafig Babayev and others began using traditional motifs in their music.

The most famous artists and sculptors of the period were Mikayil Abdullayev, Sattar Bahlulzadeh, Tair Salakhov, Togrul Narimanbeyov, Alakbar Rzaguliyev, Fuad Abdurahmanov, Tokay Mammadov and Omar Eldarov, but they form only a small portion of the talented group. Well known modern film directors include Hasan Seyidbeyli, Rasim Ojagov, Arif Babayev, Ajdar Ibrahimov and others. The list of renowned writers includes the names of Magsud and Rustam Ibrahimbayovs, Natig Rasulzadeh, Elchin, Chingiz Abdullayev along with others.

Azerbaijani arts and culture have always been on par with world culture, and all inventions and trends on a global scale have flourished in Azerbaijan. Cinema was no exception. The film industry in Azerbaijan dates back to 1898. In fact, Azerbaijan was among the first countries involved in cinematography.

When the Lumiere brothers of France premiered their first motion picture footage in Paris on December 28, 1895, little did they know how rapidly it would ignite a new age of photographic documentation. These ingenious brothers invented an apparatus, patented in February 1895, which they called the “cinematographe” (from which the word “cinematography” was derived). It is not surprising that this device soon showed up in Baku – at the turn of the 19th century, a time when the Azerbaijani capital was one the booming centers of international business.

Azerbaijani cinema hit a peak of worldwide acclaim when the film “Burnt by the Sun”, co-produced with Russian film-makers, gained top international awards. Renowned screenwriter and producer Rustam Ibrahimbayov, who is well known outside of Azerbaijan, became the first Azeri to receive the Academy Award, also known as the Oscars, for the Best Foreign Language Film in 1994 and the Grand Prize from the Jury at the 47th Cannes International Film Festival.

Past history shows the abundance and versatility of Azerbaijan’s culture, which covers a variety of areas spanning from ancient folk art to modern cinematography. Research of Azerbaijan’s fine arts, music, theater, cinema and folk art, which have covered a long and challenging path of development, proves the high cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people.





Mysterious Symbol Of Azerbaijan

Paris has it's Eiffel Tower. In Moscow, St. Basil's Cathedral draws them in. In Rome, it's the Colosseum. Athens, its Acropolis. And in Baku-the well-recognized architectural landmark is none other than the Maiden Tower. Azerbaijanis are incredibly proud of this monument that is shrouded in mystery and legend, even though scholars and historians are unable to determine, with absolute authority, its origins.

It lies at the heart of Baku's Old City and is listed on UNESCO's world heritage list.

The Maidens' Tower is a round bastion tower located along the ancient coast of Baku. It may once have been part of the city walls that enclose the old town. Measuring over 30 meters tall and around 16 meters in diameter, the Maiden Tower was once the largest and most impressive building in Azerbaijan. Its architectural design, seemingly so simple, consists of walls, which at the base are extraordinarily thick, beginning at five meters in depth and gradually narrowing to four meters at the top.

But the question everyone asks is, "Why is it called Maiden Tower?" Well, many legends surround the name. Most of them center around the word "Maiden." According to one of the most popular legends, it was a king who fell in love with a young maiden (actually his daughter) and wanted to marry her. But the princess tried to delay her father's advances by begging him to build the tower and wait until it was completed. When he completed it, he had still not changed his mind. So she climbed to the top and leaped into the sea. As the level of the Caspian Sea has experienced cycles of rising and falling over the centuries, there is a strong possibility that at one time the waves did lap at the Tower.

According to another legend, a biblical story, it was near "the Maiden Tower" where Saint Bartholomew, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, was executed. Bartholomew appeared in Baku 's territory in the first century AD, popularizing Christianity among pagans. However, Bartholomew's doctrine was rejected and he was executed near the walls of "The Maiden Tower". The place of the execution is marked by a small chapel. In fact, the execution was absolutely real and is clearly visible in an 1890 photo of “the Maiden Tower.”

Yet another story goes that Baku has never actually been taken in a war, thus it's a "virgin" tower. There are countless other tales and legends, which are part of the tower’s allure.

Different analyses of its name, along with the obscure configuration of its interior, have generated many interpretations about its function. It is widely accepted that the tower was built as a singular defensive structure and also probably formed part of the city walls of Baku, however, it is also claimed to have functioned as a Zoroastrian Temple, a Zoroastrian "Tower of Silence", a lighthouse or as an observatory.

The tower's age is also a subject of historical dispute. Its architectural style and years of construction are obscure and estimates of its age go back to an unlikely 2,000 years.

In classical history, the period of its construction is said to be the 12th century. So says a Kufi inscription on the outside of the tower (at a height of 14 meters from the ground): "gubba" (dome) of Massud ibn Davud".

But many historians argue that the slab in the brickwork was placed later to fill a gap in the wall. Having studied the lime mortar and color of the stones used for the tower construction, scientists assume it was erected not earlier than the first century (the most ancient building constructed with such mortar was found in Gabala and is dated to the first century AD), but not later than the tenth century AD (as the stones used for construction of the tower and Mohammed's Mosque are practically identical).

And finally others believe that an exterior comparison of the brickwork indicates it is clear that the lower tier of the Maiden Tower is much older than the upper area. Further, the site was inhabited since the Paleolithic period and reveals evidence of Zoroastrian, Sasanian, Arabic, Persian, Shirvani, Ottoman, and a Russian presence, revealed in different building methods used in its construction. Thus, the tower was built in two stages: the foundation of the tower (up to 13.7 meters) is dated between the fifth and the sixth centuries, while the remaining structure is believed to have been completed by the twelfth century.

A thorough survey conducted by Russian military engineers at the beginning of the nineteenth century found that the original structure of the tower had remained unchanged, with the exception of altered and remodeled roofs and vaults. These vaults were remodeled again at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The most magnificent and mysterious landmark of Baku, the Maiden Tower has no similar structures in the entire Orient and is considered an unofficial symbol of Azerbaijan.


Ancient population of Garabagh
Garabagh, the historical Azerbaijani territory, is one of the cradles of civilization. There are many reasons to believe that this region, along with the Mediterranean and North Africa, is part of the cradle of civilization of mankind and was among the first areas where the evolution of humans took place.

Garabagh extends from the highland section of the Lesser Caucasus in Azerbaijan up through the country between the Kura and the Araz rivers. In various periods of history, its territory has been referred to in various ways: the Country of Gargars, Uti, Orkhistena, Artsakh, Khachin, and other names. The name Garabagh is mentioned in sources as far back as the 12th century.

In the first millennium b.c.e such tribes as Gargars, Utis, Saks, and Sodes which, along with other tribes constituted the Albanian tribe union, lived in the territory of present-day Garabagh.

Talking about the ethnic affiliation of the most ancient inhabitants of Garabagh, it is necessary to note that the overall information from the written sources of ancient times is rather poor. There are different scientific versions, the most widespread of which is that belonging to the most ancient residents of Garabagh to the Caucasian group of languages. At the same time, stories about the Turkic origin of the Albanian tribes (not related to the Albanians in the Balkans), or a part of them which inhabited the territory of present-day Garabagh and all of northern Azerbaijan, are worth being considered, as well.

It is known that in the first millennium b.c.e such tribes as Gargars, Utis, Saks, and Sodes which, along with other tribes, were attributed to the Albanian tribal family, lived in the territory of present-day Garabagh. According to ancient authors, the number of Albanian tribes reached 26.3. The area they inhabited included, approximately, the territory of current northern Azerbaijan.

During the Medea-Ahemenides period (VI-IV c. BC), the territory ruled by the Medeans and by Persians covered all of the South Caucasus, including Garabagh. Armenian historians try to assert that, ostensibly, at this time Garabagh was already part of Armenia. But historical sources indicate quite the opposite.

It is beyond a doubt that the Albanian tribe union originated in the territory of Garabagh and throughout present-day northern Azerbaijan. However, this is not the case with the Armenians and the Armenian language, which could have appeared in the Caucasus, at best, not earlier than the period of the wars begun by the Armenian kings Artashes and Zariadrij, i.e. after the second century b.c.e.

Now it is well known that the current Armenia is not the native land of ethnic Armenians. The Armenians in the Caucasus are, absolutely, an outside element. The ancient Armenian people evolved in the area of the upper Euphrates valley in approximately the first half of the first millennium BC. Even Herodotus wrote in the fifth century BC that Armenia was “a small country” on the sources of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Xenophontus confirms Herodotus's description, saying that when he stepped on the land of the Fasians and Taokhs, which later was called Northern-Central Armenia, he understood that Armenians were left behind. Ancient Armenian chroniclers also write that the small Armenian state created after Urartu's fall, survived for only a short time and was taken over, first by Medea, and after 550 BC was seized by the Iranian Ahmenids. Thus, the statements of some Armenian historians claiming that Garabagh was a part of the Armenian State from the fifth to the fourth centuries BC are groundless.

Approximately from the fourth to the third centuries b.c.e. Albanian tribes united and established the Caucasian Albanian State. Moses Khorenatsi, an ancient Armenian historian, wrote that Arran, who obviously was a legendary ancestor, so to say the eponym of the Albanians, received “all the Albanian plain with its highland part...” and that “the tribes of Utis, Gardmans, Tsavdeys and the Gargarian principality derives from the descendants of Arran”. All of the above-mentioned tribes were the Albanian tribes.

It is almost doubtless, that among the mentioned tribes of Utis, Tsavdeys and Gardmans were the inhabitants of Garabagh. Thus, the historical sources definitely testify to the Albanian origin of the tribes of the Garabagh area.

The authors from antiquity mentioned the Albanian tribe of Utis/Otens. Herodotus was also among them. According to Plinius, the area that was inhabited by the Utis bordered Atropatena along the Araz river and, namely in the part which adjoined the Mukan (currently Mugan plain in Azerbaijan), where the tribe of Miks resided. Just like the Miks, Utis appear in the historical arena in the first quarter of the fifth century BC, participating in Iranian King Kserks's crusade to Greece and fighting in the famous Gavgamel battle.

The people of the Sodis (Tsavdeys), seemingly, should be identified with a tribe, the name of which is attested in the name of the Soduken(a) region which is located in the mountainous region of present-day Garabagh, at that time known under name of Artsakh.

Gargars are one of the major Albanian tribes. They lived in Artsakh and in the low lands. There are assumptions that the Albanian alphabet, consisting of 52 letters, was formed based on the Gargarian dialect of the Albanian language.