Abstract:

Archaeological data and written sources indicate that the Urartu kings have been travelling to South Caucasus from the end of the 9th century BC. During these trips, the productive land of the Aras Valley has played an important role in the policy of the Urartu kings, trying to determine the economic importance and political balance of the region. In the Urartular Aras Ovata, which carried out the South Caucasus policy in the VIII century BC, three great kings, such as Erebuni, Argistihinili, Teişebaini, made the city in today's Armenia, they occupied a part of the South Caucasus and the Gökçe Basin. Soviet scientists, who have made many misconceptions about the language and borders of the Urartu state, have tried to further extend the borders of the state, saying that the Nahçıvan region, which is connected to the Republic of Azerbaijan, is also within the borders of the Urartu state. But these ideas were revealed without sufficient evidence. The research of the settlements of Nahçıvan in the Middle Iron Age shows that the Urartu kings organized trips to this region at the end of the 9th century BC. The traces of the Urartu in Nahçıvan are also related to it. Urartu's King's Year's Eve and Agsal's Rock Signs indicate that their only trip to this region failed. As said in the Yearbook, they passed through Nahçıvan from Aras to the south of Pluadi in the country of Urartular's main god Haldi built a castle and a temple, and cut off the sacrifice. The construction of the castle and temple in the south of Aras, not in Nahçıvan, to the honor of the great god, shows that they are not permanent in Nahçıvan. During the investigations conducted in Nahçıvan by international teams where we are, the whole side of the region was sought, the existence of a settlement related to the Urartular was not found. In this regard, it cannot be said that Nahçıvan is under the rule of Urartu or within its borders. Keywords: South Caucasus, Nahçıvan, Oglankale, Middle Iron Age, Rock Signs, Rock Cemetery. Abstract archaeological finds and written sources show that from the end of the 9th century Urartian kings organized campaigns to the South Caucasus. During these campaigns, the fertile lands of the Araxes valley held special importance, according to the policy of Urartian kings which emphasized the economic importance and political position of various regions. During the 8th century, in accordance with this policy in the Araxes Valley, Urartian kings built three big cities: Erebuni, Argishtikhinili and Teishebani. They occupied part of the South Caucasus and the Lake Gökçe basin (now called Lake Sevan). Some Soviet scientists incorrectly proposed that the Urartian state was larger and artificially expanded the borders of Urartu to include the Azerbaijan Republic of Nakhchivan with in this state. However, there are no data to support these proposals. Excavations and other research on Middle Iron Age Nakhchivan has shown that since the end of the 9th century Urartian kings organized campaigns to this region. Evidence of Urartian contact in Nakhchivan's territory are connected with these campaigns. Rock art in Agsal and the Urartian inscription on Ilandag document these campaigns. Urartian armies seem to have by passed Nakhchivan, taking the route on the right side of the Araxes to the country of Pluadi where in honor of the main god of Urartu, Haldi, they organized sacrifices, built a fortress and built a sanctuary. The presence of this fortress and sanctuary in honor of their main god not in Nakhchivan, but south of the Araxes demonstrate that they did not lay claim to Nakhchivan. Surveys conducted by international expeditions at which we were present have not found any sign of Urartian monuments in Nakhchivan. Given this research, we argue that Nakhchivan was not a part of the Urartian state and was not subject to their authority. Keywords: South Caucasus, Nakhchivan, Oglankale, Middle Iron Age, Rock signs, Rock tomb.