Archaeological site of Selbir
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Salbir archaeological settlement is a historical site located in the Qabala District, Azerbaijan, near the modern village of Chukhur Qabala. It's one of the three main archaeological areas that make up the ancient city of Qabala, which was once the capital of Caucasian Albania.[1][2][3]
While the broader Qabala urban complex dates back to the 4th century BC, the Salbir area specifically shows evidence of continuous occupation from roughly the 1st to the 10th centuries AD. It is located on the banks of the Karachay and Jovurluchay rivers at the foot of the Greater Caucasus Mountains.[4][5]
Ancient Qabala served as Caucasian Albania's capital for about 800 years, from the 4th century BC to the 5th century AD, and remained an administrative and economic center afterward. The city's location sometimes shifted due to invasions and natural disasters. The city's various historical eras are represented by the three primary archaeological zones: Chaggalli, Gala, and Salbir. The Sabirs, a Hunic tribe thought to have arrived in Caucasian Albania in the early first century, are frequently associated with the name "Salbir." The town's population declined following a significant event in the tenth century, and the northern portion became known as "Salbir," with a moat separating it from the southern "Gala." Additionally, there is evidence linking Qabala to the Khazars during this time, as the decline of the Khazar Khanate coincided with the fall of Salbir's primary habitation.[6][5]