B737 Check Airman reported a ground conflict with unlighted objects in the middle of the ramp area; on a taxi line; while taxiing to the gate at night. The Check Airman stopped the aircraft and shutdown an engine to prevent aircraft damage; then proceeded to the gate.

Narrative

Arrival at ZZZ was uneventful. It was night time. We approached the ramp area and were making our way toward Gate XX. We stopped abruptly when we spotted sets of cones and chocks in the middle of the ramp area. They were unlit and I didn't see them in the illumination of my light. When I turned on my runway turnoff lights; I could see that I was in danger of ingesting a cone into the left engine. I was not expecting to see cones and chocks standing right on the taxi lane. We were approximately 50 feet from the cone. I shutdown the left engine as a precaution and proceeded to the gate uneventfully.I feel like at a minimum these cones need to have blinking lights. And probably a note in the company pages concerning the remote parking stand and free standing cones and chocks. Off the top of my head I can think of several airports with remote parking/maintenance ramps like this one. Perhaps it's my fault for attempting to swing wide" to capture the lead in line for Gate XX. I obviously understand the need to remain on yellow taxi lines but sometimes in different situations it's unclear as to when it's acceptable to leave the line or not. I think in the future I will approach unlit night time ramps such as these with extreme caution and with ALL lights on."