Dashkasan (Azerbaijani: Daşkəsən), also known as Karhat (Armenian: Քարհատ), is a city, municipality, and the capital of the Dashkasan District of Azerbaijan. It is located in the western part of the country, within the Ganja-Dashkasan Economic Region, at an elevation of approximately 1,630 m (5,350 ft) above sea level in the Lesser Caucasus mountain range, along the Koshkarchay River.
Etymology
The Azerbaijani name "Dashkasan" translates to "cutting stone" (Daş — stone, kəsən — cutter). The Armenian name "Karhat" is composed of the word "kar" (Armenian for "stone") and the root "hat" of the verb "hatel" (Armenian for "to quarry").
History
Dashkasan received city status on March 16, 1948. Archaeological excavations conducted in 1959–1960 uncovered tumulus-type burial monuments, indicating that the area was used as summer pastures as early as the Stone Age. During the Middle Ages, cultural work developed in the region.
After World War II, Dashkasan was transformed into an industrial town due to the mining of iron ore deposits. It began as a temporary settlement of builders and miners during the preparation for the development of the region's iron ore resources. Many of the city's buildings were constructed by German prisoners of war in the aftermath of World War II. Workers who died during construction are buried in a German cemetery along the road between Dashkasan and Ganja.
Economy
The city's economy is dominated by mining and related industries, primarily the extraction of iron ore, copper, and other non-ferrous metals. During the Soviet period, the region's strategic resources — including ironstone, aluminum, cobalt, and marble — were actively exploited.
Demographics
As of 2010, Dashkasan had a population of 11,262. The municipality consists of the city of Dashkasan and the village of Alunitdağ. In the northeast and south of the city are the former Armenian villages of Upper Karhat (Yuxarı Daşkasan) and Lower Karhat (Aşağı Daşkasan).
Culture and Landmarks
Historical monuments in the area include khachkars (cross-stones) dating from the 9th to 11th centuries, a medieval fortification called Ghala with a semi-circular tower, and the former sites of several churches, including St. Hakob Church (mentioned in 1656) and Sourb Astvatsatsin Church (demolished in 1927).
