Azerbaijan National Academy of Science

On April 18, an international conference on “Mammadali Huseynov 100: actual problems of South Caucasus archaeology” was held at the Institute of Archeology, Ethnography and Anthropology of ANAS.

Acting vice-president of ANAS, general director of the Institute of Oriental Studies academician Govhar Bakhshaliyeva opened the event and said that the conference was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the prominent archaeologist professor Mammadali Huseynov. G. Bakhshaliyeva said that M.Huseynov is a great scientist who has exceptional merits in the development of archeology in Azerbaijan. In 1956-1958, archaeological excavations were carried out in the Damcili cave camp of Gazakh region and rich material and cultural samples of Paleolithic culture were found under his leadership. In 1960-1986, during the complex archaeological research carried out in the ancient human camp Azikh, 10 archaeological layers were recorded and studied here. As a result of the research of the scientist, primary camps, including Guruchay culture, were identified. In 1968, during archeological excavations in the fifth layer of the Azikh camp, M.Huseynov discovered the lower jaw bone of an ancient man, which is considered an event for world historiography. The scientist, who has done great research for the science of archeology in Azerbaijan, devoted more than 20 years of his life to research in the Azikh cave. M.Huseynov is the author of six books and more than a hundred scientific works.

General director of the Institute of Archeology, Ethnography and Anthropology, professor Abbas Seyidov made a speech on “Mammadali Huseynov's place in Azerbaijan archeology”, professor Asadulla Jafarov on “Founder of Azerbaijan Paleolithic school” and gave detailed information about the scientist's life and scientific activity. It was noted that M.Huseynov is the founder of the Azerbaijani Paleolithic school and the first researcher of the world-famous Azikh Paleolithic camp. As a result of archaeological research and research carried out by the scientist, the history of the existence of ancient human camps in the territory of Azerbaijan was proved to be more than 1.2 million years. That is why he is considered the patriarch of archaeological science of Azerbaijan.

In 1956, Paleolithic archaeological expedition was organized at the Museum of Azerbaijan History of the Academy of Sciences under the leadership of M.Huseynov. In 1958, during the exploration works carried out in Gazakh region, the Dashsalahli Mousterian camp was discovered. During the archeological excavations carried out in the Dashsalahli camp, rich archaeological materials related to Mousterian culture were found. M.Huseynov discovered samples of material culture of great scientific importance during archeological excavations in the lower strata of the Azikh camp. During the researches carried out under his leadership, rich Paleolithic camps were discovered in the territory of the Republic and as a result, the Azerbaijani Paleolithic school was created. During archeological excavations carried out in the VII-X layers of the Azikh Paleolithic Camp, new tools of the Paleolithic period were found. Since no Paleolithic camps in the world could find such tools, archaeological finds of the lower strata were named after Guruchay culture. At present, Guruchay culture is considered the most ancient archaeological culture in the territory of the Middle East and Caucasus. Guruchay culture, discovered from VII-X strata of Azikh camp, tells about the initial settlement of ancient people in the cave. In 1968, during archeological excavations in the fifth layer of the Azikh camp, he found an ancient human jaw with labor tools. During the scientific researches on the jaw, it was established that this jaw belongs to 350-30-year-old woman who lived here 35 thousand years ago.

It was noted that in 1971-1994 M.Huseynov headed the Department of Stone Age archaeology of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. At the same time, he taught at Baku State University and in 1976-1993 he was the head of the Department of Archeology and Ethnography at the Faculty of history. Professor M.Huseynov repeatedly made scientific reports at international conferences and commented in detail the characteristic features of the archaeological cultures of the paleolithic camps recorded in the territory of Azerbaijan. Mammadali Huseynov died on July 1994, 5 at the most productive time of his creativity. However, today the graduates of the Paleolithic School of Azerbaijan, which he created, cherish the memory of the late scientist, carry out successful research works in the way of realization of his dreams. It is no coincidence that the achievements of this school are highly appreciated in Europe and other countries of the world. Since 2001, archaeological research on the paleolithic problem in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan has acquired an international character. Because the remains of material culture found in the Azikh paleolithic camp on the Guruchay coast of Azerbaijan have an exceptional scientific significance in the study of the problems of formation, development and migration of primitive people. Today, paleolithic scientists of different countries of the world refer to the works published by the paleolithic school created by M.Huseynov.

Reports of scientists from Turkey, Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries were heard at the conference.

The International Conference on “Mammadali Huseynov 100: actual problems of South Caucasus archaeology” will continue until April 19.

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