page 53–59                                                                                                                                                                                        RUS

https://doi.org/10.20874/2071-0437-2026-72-1-6  

УДК  903.2

  http://www.ipdn.ru/_private/a72/53-59.pdf

A sample of ancient glyptic: a stamp seal from Barda (Early Bronze Age)    

Kirichenko, Dmitriy A.,

PhD of History, Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan,

e-mail: dmakirichenko@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1045-4159

This study aims to introduce into scientific circulation an item currently exhibited at the Historical and Regional Museum of Barda (Azerbaijan Republic), inventory number 917. The artifact is examined against the broader context of comparable finds from the South Caucasus and the Middle East. The analysis employed the following methods: typological dating of artifacts by analogy, comparative historical analysis, and analytical method. According to D.G. Hogarth's classification of stamp seals, the object belongs to Class A (semi-spheroids). The artifact is cone-shaped, crafted from well-fired clay, and exhibits a pink hue. It features a cylindrical perforation in the center, likely intended for suspension via a cord or string, with a diameter of 0.8 cm. Its dimensions are 1.8 cm in height and 3.2 cm in diameter. The upper surface of the seal bears marks applied prior to firing. The front side of the seal is round and bears an incised ornament, seemingly carved prior to firing. The ornament consists of curved lines concentrated in the center, evoking the motif of a sun with rays. The item may have functioned as a pendant seal. A closely analogous clay artifact, though slightly smaller in size, was reco-vered from the archaeological site of Kul Tepe Gargar (East Azerbaijan Province, Northwestern Iran). After extensive scholarly debate and research, this object was classified as a stamp seal associated with the Kura-Araxes cultural-historical community. It is possible that the Barda artifact may represent a variant of the cone-shaped stamp seals of the Kura-Araxes cultural-historical community, dating to the Early Bronze Age. It is conceivable that the museum specimen was an incidental find from the Shortepe settlement (Barda District, Azerbaijan Republic). This site is archaeologically linked to the Kura-Araxes Culture.

Keywords: Azerbaijan, Near East, stamp seals, Early Bronze Age, Kura-Araxes cultural-historical community.

©  Kirichenko, D.A., 2026   

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