SHAKHTAKHTY VILLAGE
....Shakhtakhty village is located in the territory of the Kangarli region. The history research of the Shakhtakhty village shows that Shakhtakhty is one of the places where ancient people settled. So it is the Late Bronze and early Iron Age city. It is located in the favorable natural and geographical conditions. As a result of etching, construction remnants consist of disintegrated stone and soil sedimentary which exist over the monument. Being in 3-4.5m thickness cultural layer consists of construction remnants, tools, broken clay dishes which were found during archeological excavations (1936 and 1979-90) in the territory of Shakhtakhty. Grandiose city wall which was built from huge stones (2.2-2.6m width, 1.2-2.45m height) and residential construction remnants arouse special interest. At this time Shakhtakhty turned into tower city settlement, Nakhchivan has been the centre of one of huge kin unions. Pottery making, metal processing, jewelry and etc.have developed highly in Shakhtakhty. Rich dyestuff ceramic production, cylindrical stamps (15/14 BC) and examples of graceful decoration which was found here show that Shakhtakhty had closely liaised with ancient cultural centers of the Near East. Pink, grey and black clay dishes, things of decoration, stone tools and osteological remnants were found in Shakhtakhty. According to findings Shakhtakhty settlement belongs to 3-1th millenniums. Oval systematic pottery remnant, colorless (pot, jug, a big pitcher, ceramic ware, lamp) and coloured (bowl and plate) dishes, clay figures, the different parts of 2 keen knife-edges and examples of material culture were discovered during archeological excavations (5X5 area) in the west part of this settlement. Finding materials in Shakhtakhty show the local population had been occupied with sowing, cattle-breeding, art and trade. According to archaeological findings, the Sakhtakhty settlement is supposed to belong to the VII-XIII centuries. It is located at the distance of 28km south-east of the center of the region, in the Sharur plain. The population (3092 persons in 2009) is engaged with sowing and cattle-breeding. There is a secondary school, kindergarten, culture house, medical settlement communication department there. Jinlidara is situated in the south-west of the village and Shakhbagi middle century monuments are located in the north, in the slope of the Givraq plateau lying towards the Aras.