صورة - A Trip to Chukhur Gabala: Ruins of Azerbaijan's Ancient Capital

A Trip to Chukhur Gabala: Ruins of Azerbaijan's Ancient Capital

İn fact, Gabala, Azerbaijan, is not just a place with dozens of relaxing attractions.

Don't get me wrong - being famous for its natural sites or chill spots is not awful; on the contrary, it should be a point of pride to be known that way. The sad thing is that a lot of travelers (both local and foreign) only know it for these aspects.So, what is the result? After their trips to Gabala, travelers often say it has gorgeous, relaxing 5 star hotels, or that Nohur Lake is a chill place, or that Yeddi Gozel Waterfall is a must-see spot as well - bla bla. Shortly, they rave purely and simply about its natural wonders and tourism facilities.And I’m afraid there’s nothing on internet that helpfully explains the other side of the city.With all that in mind, I decided to say a couple of words on a topic that doesn't really get much attention, i.e., an almost 2,500-year-old lost capital city.I mean the place called Chukhur Gabala, where the ancient ruins of the city are now unearthed. If you’re also interested in something different to do in Gabala or are just a history or archaeology nerd, in this article you’ll get the needful clues about it before your visit, like:Brief history of this city;What parts of this ancient city have been discovered so far;Things to do in Chukhur Gabala, and much more.Let’s get on with it.



Brief History of the Ancient City of Gabala, Azerbaijan


Some 2,400 years ago, a very strong opportunity arose for a new state to be established on these lands.Of course, there were other ancillary factors, but the disintegration of the Macedonian Empire after the death of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC was the main trigger.Alexander's passing resulted in the formation of two states in this region. A state called Caucasian Albania was established within the current borders of Azerbaijan: Even a little beyond the current state borders (partly in Russia, partly in Georgia and partly in Armenia).Fun Fact #1: BTW, At the same time, the state of Atropatene was set up in the north of modern Iran. Interestingly, one of the facts about Azerbaijan is that its name originates from this state.It may sound unbelievable, but Albania remained a state for an impressive 1,200 years in history.So, for a country that has survived for more than a millennium, there must be at least as much history buried beneath the soil as there is above it.Where might this ancient mother-city’s earliest remains be found then? In Gabala, the capital, certainly.Yes, you heard that right.Back in the day, Gabala was the capital of Caucasian Albania, called Kabalaka in Greek.The first person to mention Gabala in written sources was Pliny, who lived in the 1st century AD.He referred to the city as Kabalaka in his encyclopedic work Naturalis Historia (Natural History).It is highly probable that the author, who was also a military commander, saw it directly during one of the Roman military campaigns.And unfortunately, the ruins of ancient Gabala, which was the capital of Albania until the 5th century AD, came to light only about 2,000 years after Pliny's words:


In the vicinity of the village of Chukhur Gabala.

Archaeological Expeditions in Ancient Chukhur Gabala

First things first, the archaeological findings are not limited to one area.So, I'm saying that the village of Chukhur Gabala is the most important part of the archaeological excavations (for the time being, at least).Also near this village lie the ruins of the ancient city walls of Gabala (in a slightly southeastern part of it).In any case, the name of this village is often misinterpreted as the name of the ancient city, or it’s thought that archaeological excavations have taken place only here.But as a matter of fact, all archaeological activities and explorations are currently taking place in the massive 420-hectare Gabala State Historical-Artistic Reserve.Long story short, the ancient and medieval city of Gabala covers a vast area, including other villages such as Soltannuxa, Dizakhli, Tovle, etc.At the moment, Old Gabala city consists of 3 main historical-archaeological sites from the 4th century BC to the 18th century AD:


  • Ancient
  • City
  • Salbir
  • Gala



Note: The name “Chukhur” means “trench” in Azeri. As the area of the village resembles a trench, it’s called that. By the way, the ancient city of Gabala near this village, on the other hand, is located slightly higher than the village.#1. Ancient City of Gabala: The Antiquity PeriodThe oldest part of the city is the Ancient City, which mainly covers the Antiquity period of history (from the 4th century BC to the 1st century AD). This period also marks the establishment of Caucasian Albania.However, the latest digs show that the city's history might go much further back, older than we thought.


Research done points out that the ancient city was built on an Early Iron Age settlement.That site of the old city spans an area of 50 hectares. It’s known as Çaqqalı or Güllü Tala by locals, which funnily means “a place of jackals” or “a field with lots of flowers”.Interestingly, it’s approximately 2.5 km southeast of the city walls near Chukhur Gabala. Just next to the country’s largest lavender field (I said flowers).Think of it as the outskirts of the city center (maybe once there was not a city center).

Salbir Excavation Area: The Medieval Period

Salbir archaeological territory (Səlbir in Azeri) of the old city of Gabala covers the medieval period from the 1st century AD to the 11th century.This excavation area is about 12 hectares. The towers and other underground remains show that the walls were built based on the area's strategic location.Located north of the old Gabala city center, the Salbir area has been the most studied and worked so far.Unlike the ancient city archaeological site, it’s just near the village of Chukhur Gabala, along with another part of the city center called Gala in the south.

And if you are going to do a tour here, you will probably spend most of your time in these areas.



Gala Excavation Area: From the Medieval to Modern Period



And finally, the 3rd excavation site of the city is Gala (Qala in Azeri), sometimes also called Govurqala.A large and deep moat separates this area, known as the south of the old city center, from Salbir.Turns out, the city center might have been split into two parts at some point, but it’s not clear for now.This parcel covers about 13 hectares and spans the period from the 1st century AD to the 18th century.The four towers on the southern side of the fortress have survived well to this day. And the gap for the main gate between the twin towers is about 4.8 meters wide.So, a key part of the ruins of the ancient city walls of Gabala is here. My favorite.


Briefly, Salbir and Gala sites are the two parts of the city center with a total area of 25 hectares.

Chukhur Gabala Things to Do: What’s More

No matter how you look at it, it’s no secret that Gabala’s got huge tourism potential.It’s got stunning natural beauty, off-beat spots, and relaxing hotels, etc.To add to this diversity, there’s also an institution and museum-like place where you can learn about and directly see the archaeological and historical exhibits of the ancient city.I mean the Gabala Archaeological Center.It’s located just near the Salbir excavation area and is definitely another must-visit spot in Chukhur Gabala.


In addition to skeletal remains of ancient residents, pottery, and ancient clay water pipes on outdoor display, you can explore even more artifacts up close at the Gabala Archaeological Center.


Although it has two pretty small museums within it, the exhibitions here are quite rich, featuring coins and other daily life items from Caucasian Albania.Fun Fact #2: The grandchildren of Caucasian  Albania still live in Gabala. This community, known as the Udi people, is mostly settled in the district of Nij, which is also very close to the ancient city. BTW, they're Christian and have kept their traditions alive until today.If you are interested in the topic in depth, you can see many other things found here, like the Tetradrachms with Alexander the Great's image on them, at the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan.As a history and archaeology nerd, this is what I did - just out of curiosity.On the other hand, this archaeological area is also very close to the beautiful lavender fields. You can breathe in the heavenly scent near the Ancient City of Gabala site as well. So don't miss it.Long story short, there’s a lot to do in the vicinity, and they should definitely be on your Gabala tour itinerary.


That’s all.

Have a nice trip.