Chingizgala
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| Chingizgala | |
|---|---|
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 Interactive map of the Chingizgala area | |
| General information | |
| Type | tower |
| Location | Car, Zagatala, Azerbaijan |
| Coordinates | 41°40′22″N 46°41′03″E / 41.67264°N 46.68411°E |
| Completed | 16th century |
Chingizgala or Jingozgala is a tower located in the Jar village of the Zagatala District of Azerbaijan.[1] The towers, which gave the impression of strength and stability through their appearance, are the reflection of the harsh life of the society that created them. Chingizgala is located near the road. The adjacent area was surrounded by walls preserved only in a small part. The outline of the survived sections of the wall indicates that there was a small fortification here, and not a separate tower.
The tower is the best-preserved part of the fortification. Unfortunately, during the 20th century, the tower and the adjacent house were inhabited, which led to the distortion of the architectural features and the destruction of some parts.
The socio-political conditions inherent in the Jar-Balakan jamaats with frequent military clashes should have influenced the creation of a peculiar architecture, particularly, the development of various types of defensive structures.[2] Here, as well as in other adjacent territories of the Caucasus, one can find combinations of residential buildings with combat towers, edifices of a castle and fortress type, and so on.[2] Such structures were usually intended for the defence of one family or clan. The most ancient tribal fortifications could serve as a refuge not only for one, but also for several clans, a fact that should have been reflected in the size of the building.[2]
The decomposition of the jamaat system and with the beginning of the top of the community feudalization, emphasizing the privileged families, caused the construction of a new type fortified structures; at first, these were probably separate towers around which powerful fortress walls were then raised.[2] The further path of the development leads to the creation of a small fortified ownership. [3]
Unfortunately, many of these structures were destroyed, most likely during the wars, especially in the last period of the communities' existence. In the anonymous "Chronicle of the Jar Wars in the 18th century" there are numerous references to the destruction of the settlements and fortresses.[4]
Mission
The towers, which gave the impression of strength and stability through their appearance, are the reflection of the harsh life of the society that created them. Nowadays these towers (even in a dilapidated form), unexpectedly growing in the dense greenery of the forests, remind of the times when the wars and the armed clashes were a daily occurrence in the life of the Jar-Balakans.[5] People working in the field, in the garden, being in the pastures were on the alert to always have time to lock themselves in the tower and be ready to repel the enemy.[5]
Towers were usually built on a high ground with a good visibility and natural defence conditions, as well as over the roads to control the latter.[5] Chingizgala [5] also belongs to this type of towers.
Description
Chingizgala is located near the road. The adjacent area was surrounded by walls, preserved only in a small part. The outline of the survived sections of the wall indicates that there was a small fortification here, and not a separate tower.[5] On the site, in addition to the tower and the remains of the walls, there is also a residential building, apparently of a later origin.[5] It is possible that in its place there was a building of an earlier construction, which was later destroyed.[5] No other structures were found in the immediate vicinity of the tower.[5]