Azerbaijan Week - Rock of Ages

If you visit Baku, I highly recommend that you schedule a half day to go and explore Gobustan - a vast 540 hectare enclave of magnificent petroglyphs or carvings.

Gobustan - otherwise known as the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape - is about 65 km (40 miles) outside of Baku and features more than 6,000 carvings, discovered around the area’s natural caves and shelters, last inhabited in the Middle Ages but dating back to prehistoric times.

The carvings depict everyday life back in the day - hunting, canoeing, prey - and are best seen accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who can show you the key sites.

The relatively new museum is your first port of call and you hear about the history of the site and what you need to look for. You then return to your car and head further inside to walk around the site itself.

Try the drystone and hear the resonating sounds it still makes. It is thought that it may have been used as a means of communicating between distant tribes.

Also of interest is the Roman stone. The Romans used to leave a keystone to mark the furthest part of their empire. With the discovery of this stone, it currently marks the easternmost evidence of Roman occupation yet discovered.

Contributor and photographer: Sue Lowry. For sets of images of Baku, Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers, Khinalig, Gobustan, Ateshgah Fire Temple and Yanar Dag, visit Sue’s Flickr stream.

Sue Lowry travelled as a guest of Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers (a Magellan client) and British Airways. For a three night stay, prices - to include accommodation and flights - start at GBP808 - subject to change. A visa for entry is required which can easily be arranged through the hotel.

Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers is on twitter @FairmontBaku and on Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest: Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers. Follow British Airways @British_Airways and on Facebook: British Airways.

Magellan PR is on Twitter: @MagellanPR / on Facebook: MagellanPR / on YouTube: MagellanPR / on Pinterest: Sue Lowry / on Google+: Sue Lowry & MagellanPR and on Flickr: Sue Lowry. For more information on our company, visit www.magellan-pr.com. Follow our other blog focussing on travel in the South of England - A3 Traveller.

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