| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
 Entrance to the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape Reserve | |
| Location | Azerbaijan |
| Includes | |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iii) |
| Reference | 1076rev |
| Inscription | 2007 (31st Session) |
| Area | 537.22 ha (1,327.5 acres) |
| Buffer zone | 3,096.34 ha (7,651.2 acres) |
| Coordinates | 40°7′30″N 49°22′30″E / 40.12500°N 49.37500°E |
  Location of Gobustan State Historical and Cultural Reserve in Azerbaijan | |
Gobustan State Historical and Cultural Reserve (Azerbaijani: Qobustan dövlət tarixi-bədii qoruğu) is located west of the settlement of Gobustan, about 40 miles (64 km) southwest of the center of Baku. It was established in 1966, when the area was declared a national historical landmark of Azerbaijan in an attempt to preserve the prehistoric rock carvings, mud volcanoes and musical stones in the region.
Gobustan State Reserve is rich in archeological monuments. Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape within the reserve, which covers an area of 537 ha, has more than 6,000 rock carvings, which depict people, animals, battle-pieces, ritual dances, bullfights, boats with armed oarsmen, warriors with lances, camel caravans, sun and stars, on average dating back to 5,000-20,000 years.
Gobustan State Historical and Cultural Reserve acquired national status in 2006, and Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007.[1][2] As of 2011, the Petroglyph Museum functions in the reserve.
- ^ "Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "Gobustan State Historical-Artistic Reserve". Presidential Library. Retrieved 28 January 2022.