SELJUK ELEMENTS IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS OF GANJA OF THE 11TH-13TH CENTURIES

The cultural and archaeological remains from the Seljuk period represent a significant stage in the history of Islamic heritage. Many monumental works from this era are still regarded as most beautiful and impressive examples of world culture. Similarities have been observed in the artistic and architectural monuments found in territories inhabited by Turkic peoples during the Seljuk Empire, as well as in those in the neighboring Caliphate. The unity of the architectural monuments, construction methods, and decorative principles in the Islamic world is quite evident. This cohesion has led researchers to adopt terms like "Seljuk style" and "Seljuk influence." The Azerbaijani city of Ganja, which was governed by the Seljuk rulers during the 11th to 13th centuries, emerged as a significant cultural and economic center in the Middle East. Archaeological expeditions in the city of Ganja have confirmed the presence of pottery, silk weaving, and coppersmith workshops during the Seljuk period. Excavations at the Karpijlitepe site in the Ganja-Gazakh region of Azerbaijan have uncovered elements of a feudal castle's facade, along with fragments of its walls. Archaeological excavations conducted in the 1960s along the Ganja-Baku railway, 8-10 km from the line, uncovered metal coins, ceramics, glass, and metal objects. These finds are associated with a cultural layer dating from the 9th to the 14th centuries.