Qabala Archaeological Center, Shaki-Zaqatala Region, Azerbaijan

5Phillip8789 5:00 PM Dec 7, 2019

An Outstanding Museum
Prior to visiting Qabala Center we we taken to the archaeological site of Salbir. Here we saw skeletal remains, pottery artifacts, clay pipes that carried water into this ancient fortress - a fortress built and extended upon between the 1st and 11th centuries. Many of the artifacts uncovered at this site, including earthenware and glass vessels, bronze and gold adornments and weapons are on display at the Center. Visiting this site was a very appropriate introduction to our forthcoming visit to Qabala Center, which was only a short drive from the Salbir site. The Archaeological Center was excellent, both in regard to the on-site guide, whose tour was very informative and enthusiastic, but more significantly in the artifacts exhibited throughout the Center. The displays contained pottery, bronze and silver jewellery, beads, coins, arrowheads, utensils, ceramics and tools. Some of the ancient materials in the exhibition, apparently, date back over 400,000 years. For me, the highlight of the whole exhibition was the "Pair Burial Grave", showing a couple buried together as part of a funerary ritual, the grave being 1800 to 1900 years old. Obviously this significant grave has been reconstructed for display within the Center. Whilst not a large Museum, it was very impressive, the artifacts displayed were excellent, well-displayed and it was easy to negotiate your way through the Center. If visiting Azerbaijan, this is certainly a site you must visit.

4debra2001 5:00 PM Jul 5, 2019

Excellet guide
We had a very good guide, explaining the museum and also the excavation site. He was passionate about the site and willing to ask all questions. One of my highlights of Azerbaijan