Thor Heyerdahl and Gobustan: Exploring the Ancient Rock Art and Legends of Azerbaijan

Thor Heyerdahl’s name is firmly associated with great journeys, bold hypotheses, and a lifelong commitment to preserving the heritage of ancient civilizations. For Azerbaijan, he became more than just a researcher — he was someone who looked at Gobustan and saw not random images carved into stone, but fragments of a global human story. The majestic cliffs, the silence of the rocky desert, and the enigmatic symbols left by ancient peoples inspired him to ideas that continue to intrigue archaeologists and historians around the world.

Heyerdahl first visited Azerbaijan in the late 20th century and immediately felt the extraordinary power of Gobustan. The massive boulders polished by wind, the carvings depicting hunting scenes, rituals, and maritime imagery — all of it seemed to him part of forgotten connections between distant cultures. He was astonished by how well the petroglyphs had been preserved and often remarked that certain motifs resembled images he had encountered in other parts of the world during his expeditions.

One carving in particular left a deep impression on him: a stone depiction of a reed boat, known locally as a “kiyak.” He compared it to the ships of ancient Scandinavians and saw in it a possible link connecting the Eastern Caucasus with the northern regions of Europe in remote antiquity. Although his theories were met with mixed reactions, they encouraged many scholars to view Gobustan from a new perspective — not merely as an open-air museum, but as part of a much larger human narrative.

Heyerdahl saw Gobustan as a place where time seems to unfold in layers. One step reveals traces of tribes who hunted gazelles thousands of years ago; another brings you to maritime motifs hinting at contact with distant lands. For him, Gobustan was not simply a collection of artifacts but a living organism in which the past continues to breathe. He often said that here one could feel like a wanderer engaged in a silent conversation with people who lived millennia before our time.

Beyond his scientific interests, Heyerdahl was captivated by the very atmosphere of Gobustan. A land where stones take the shape of legends and the wind composes its own music seemed to him a place capable of telling the world about the dawn of human civilization no less than Egypt or Mesopotamia. His journeys to Azerbaijan became a significant chapter not only in his personal research but also in the worldwide recognition of Gobustan as a site of exceptional cultural importance.

Today, Thor Heyerdahl’s legacy lives on in the respect for his daring ideas and in the continued fascination with Gobustan. Visitors come not only to admire the ancient carvings but also to experience the same sense of wonder that once inspired the famous explorer. Among the sunlit stones shaped by the Caspian breeze, it is easy to imagine him walking along the rocky paths, studying the carved lines and trying to hear the voice of antiquity. His perspective helped place Gobustan firmly within the context of global cultural history, becoming an important contribution to the appreciation of Azerbaijan’s unique heritage.

Those who visit today can still feel the same force that once led Heyerdahl to believe in the great routes of antiquity. Gobustan continues to live, inspire, and astonish — and the story of Thor Heyerdahl is just one of many threads connecting the modern world with humanity’s millennia-old mysteries.