Secret underground passages of Baku...

"Today, it's possible to find out more information about the existence of secret underground passages which served to ensure security in medieval towns and fortresses of Azerbaijan", said deputy department head of the State Administration of historical and architectural reserve "Icherisheher" Kamil Ibrahimov.

According to him, underground passages of Azerbaijani towns and fortresses are of a great interest. They were not created occasionally but for real purposes.
 
"While invaders kept medieval towns and fortresses in siege, secret passages served to deliver water, products, weapons and of course they served for escape. Some of these ways still remain intact in some medieval fortresses. One of great examples are the passages in fortress Gulustan (built at the top of a high mountain nearby the capital of Shirvanshahs – Shamakhi region)", Giz Qalasi in Ismayilli region, another Gulustan fortress, established on the bank of river Injachay etc.", Ibrahimov said. 

He said that some evidences show the existence of passages in ancient Baku. One of them is a tunnel heading from the Palace of the Shirvanshahs.

"There are some interesting facts indicating that the shah, courtiers and guards were forced to withdraw to defense positions in Maiden Tower during the attack of enemies and left the city with this underground tunnel when the fortress was under danger of total invasion.

The first underground passage was discovered as a result of large-scale archaeological excavations held in 1982 at the site of old jewellery factory in eastern part of Icherisheher. The passage heading from Shamakhi fortress gates (these gates are considered central trade streets of Baku) is located in the eastern part of the main road leading to the Salyan gates.
 
Interestingly, the way passes under caravanserai "Multan", built in XIV century, and leads to the Maiden Tower. The secret way is square and was built by the symmetrical drilling of natural rock", Ibrahimov said.
 
According to the archeologist, the excavations held in Icherisheher in the last 20 years revealed remnants of the underground passage.

"The tunnel's width is 0.8m, the depth – 1.25m, So far, 9m leading to the south were studied. However, dark and stuffiness hindered the further research. In this territory, an underground passage was discovered yet in 1924 during the excavations nearby the Maiden Tower."

Excavations held by researcher V.M. Sisov, revealed remnants of an underground passage leading to the north deep into the city. The very direction corresponds to the passage that we found and once more proves that it was a secret way. No doubt that this passage, heading from the Maiden Tower had a certain exit to the north part of the city", archeologist said.

Ibrahimov believes that these hidden passages served mainly for two purposes.
 
"Firstly, they were used to supply population with provision and secondly for escape in case of outer invasion", the archeologist concluded.


/Day.Az/