Mughan plain (, مغان دوزو; ) is a plain stretching from northwestern Iran to the southern part of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The highest density of irrigation canals is in the section of the Mughan plain which lies in the Republic of Azerbaijan. It is located on the bank of the

Aras river The Aras is a transboundary river in the Caucasus. It rises in eastern Turkey and flows along the borders between Turkey and Armenia, between Turkey and the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan, between Iran and both Azerbaijan and Armenia, and, fin ...

extending to Iran. The Mughan plain consists of five cities: Bilehard, Parsabad, Jafarabad, Germi and Aslan Duz. One-third of the plain is located in

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

and the rest is in Azerbaijan. By the Chalcolithic period (c. 4500–3500 BCE), the Moghan Plain was integrated into the sphere of the Kura–Araxes culture, a major cultural phenomenon in the South Caucasus known for its red-black pottery and early metallurgical development. These communities built fortified settlements, cultivated crops, and developed trans-regional trade networks.

Sasanian Period and Urbanization

In the Sasanian period (224–651 CE), the Moghan Plain was part of a strategic border region. Fortified cities like Ultan Qalasi and elevated mounds such as Nader Tepesi reveal advanced settlement structures, including irrigation systems and citadel-like layouts. These reflect a well-organized administrative presence in the region. The Sasanian Empire used the Moghan Plain as a route for military and economic operations, and remnants of coinage, pottery, and civic planning illustrate the integration of the area into broader imperial networks.

History

The ancient settlement of Alikomektepe, dating to 5000 BC, is located in the Mughan plain and covers an area of over 1 hectare.Махмудов Ф.Р., Нариманов П.Г., 1974. Поселение Аликемек-тепеси. АО 1973 г. М. (Russian) Early levels belonged to Shulaveri-Shomu culture. The Mughan culture was later centered in the area. Mughan was a province of the

Abbasid Caliphate The Abbasid Caliphate or Abbasid Empire (; ) was the third caliphate to succeed the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (566–653 CE), from whom the dynasty takes ...

, in present-day

Iranian Azerbaijan Azerbaijan or Azarbaijan (, , ), also known as Iranian Azerbaijan, is a historical region in northwestern Iran that borders Iraq and Turkey to the west and Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijani exclave of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republ ...

. Mughan District was one of the administrative divisions of Shirvan Khanate. After 1820, the Shirvan Khanate was conquered by the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...

Maps

Moughan in Abbasid Caliphate.jpg, In Abbasid Caliphate Map of the Shirvan Khanate.png, In the Shirvan Khanate

Notes

References

MOḠĀN
in Iranica {{DEFAULTSORT:Mughan plain Plains of Azerbaijan Plains of Iran

Sasanian Period and Urbanization

History

Maps

See also

Notes

References