Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape 2023

by Leanna Wigboldus and Elizabeth Brabec

“This cultural landscape is comprised of the high-mountain Khinalig village in northern Azerbaijan, high-altitude summer pastures and agricultural terraces in the Greater Caucasus Mountains, winter pastures in the lowland plains in central Azerbaijan, and the connecting 200-kilometre-long seasonal transhumance route called Köç Yolu (“Migration Route”). The village of Khinalig is home to the semi-nomadic Khinalig people, whose culture and lifestyle are defined by the seasonal migration between summer and winter pastures, and who retain the ancient way of long-distance vertical transhumance. The organically evolved network including ancient routes, temporary pastures and camping sites, mausoleums, and mosques illustrates a sustainable eco-social system adapted to extreme environmental conditions.”

(UNESCO World Heritage List 2023)

The Cultural Landscape of Khinalig people and the “Köç Yolu” Transhumance Route is a continuing cultural landscape situated in the Greater Caucasus Mountains of Azerbaijan. The site offers a window into the rich history and cultural traditions of the semi-nomadic Khinalig people, spanning from the medieval village of Khinalig to the high-altitude summer pastures (yaylags) and winter grazing lands in the lowland plains of central Azerbaijan (qishlaqs). The landscape embodies centuries of human adaptation and interaction with the environment. At the heart of this cultural landscape lies the Köç Yolu, a historic transhumance route stretching 200 kilometers and serving as a lifeline between seasonal habitats. The route crosses through the Guba, Shamakhi, Gobustan, Absheron, and Hajigabul administrative districts and twists through a natural landscape filled with numerous cultural monuments including cemeteries, bridges, shrines, and mosques. 

The Khinalig people’s history is intricately woven into the fabric of their landscape through their knowledge of natural resources and transhumance practices. Archaeological excavations reveal evidence of human occupation in the area since the Early Bronze Age, with burial sites and artifacts providing glimpses into ancient societies. The village of Khinalig itself has been mentioned in written records since the 13th century, serving as a center of Islamic education and literacy in the region. Despite political and socio-economic changes over the centuries, including the influence of the Russian Empire in the 19th century, the Khinalig people have maintained their semi-nomadic way of life and continue to practice transhumance to this day.

The site was inscribed under criterion (iii) as a living testament to transhumance traditions within the Caucasus geo-cultural region, as well as the continuation and maintenance of ancestral semi-nomadic eco-social systems of the Khinalig people, and under criterion (v) for the ongoing sustainable land use, adaptation to extreme of people to environmental conditions, and the resiliency of traditional semi-nomadic transhumance culture of the Khinalig people, culture, and lifestyle. 

The architectural elements of Khinalig village bear witness to the community’s resilience and ingenuity in adapting to their mountainous terrain. Built with local stone and featuring tiered structures designed to navigate steep slopes, the village reflects a harmonious integration of human settlement with natural surroundings. These include gravity-fed irrigation systems for pastures and hayfields and agricultural terraces, many of which have been replaced by modern agricultural practices but which still continue to play a role in daily life. The layout of the medieval village, with its neighborhood divisions and communal spaces, speaks to centuries of collective organization and cultural continuity. Moreover, the Khinalig language, customs, and traditions passed down through generations serve as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Khinalig people and their profound connection to their ancestral lands.

For further information on the site, including the nomination file and ICOMOS Evaluation can be found at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1696 .