Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

For the first time, archaeologists were provided with special uniforms and filming drones.

The President of ANAS, Academician Isa Habibbeyli, visited the Shahbulag monument complex near the liberated Agdam city. He became acquainted with the activities of the Shahbulag archaeological expedition of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography.

The Director of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of ANAS, PhD in history Farhad Guliyev, and the head of the Shahbulag archaeological expedition, leading scientific worker of the institute, PhD in history, docent Tavakkul Aliyev, presented detailed information to the President of ANAS about the excavations conducted in the complex. They discussed the ancient settlement, Albanian monuments, the history of the 17th-century Shahbulag Castle, and the Shah Abbas Mosque.

It was noted that during the occupation of Karabakh, Armenian archaeologists conducted illegal excavations in the Shahbulag castle and surrounding areas, resulting in the destruction of many material culture samples and significant damage to the castle walls. During the occupation and the 44-day Patriotic War, the enemy, who was forced to surrender the Agdam region without fighting, also took the existing artifacts with them in trucks. After the liberation of Karabakh, Azerbaijani archaeologists began excavations in these areas, discovering new ancient settlements and a large number of material culture samples. The numerous examples of material culture uncovered during these archaeological investigations reveal traces of urban culture from the Caucasian Albanian period. The area, which covers a large expanse, is rich in valuable historical materials.

Having visited the ancient Albanian temple, Shahbulag palace, Shahbulag fountain-monument, and the mosque in the territory of the Shahbulag historical-architectural complex, Academician Isa Habibbeyli reviewed the archaeological materials and emphasized the importance of expanding research efforts. He highlighted the rich materials found in the Shahbulag complex and made recommendations about increasing the number of articles in impact-factor journals, writing comprehensive monographic research works, and preparing albums. He stressed the importance of involving archaeologists in complex research together with scientists from other fields of humanitarian science, including anthropologists, ethnographers, paleoseismologists, toponymy researchers, and folklorists. The broad representation of young archaeologists in the expedition at the Shahbulag monument complex has been praised.

It should be noted that, for the first time, archaeologists were equipped with special uniforms featuring the Academy's new emblem. Additionally, drones provided by the ANAS management were used for the first time at the Shahbulag monument complex, capturing exclusive visual images of the excavation sites.

From now on, archaeologists will work in special uniforms and use drone footage during their research. 

Translator: Reyhan Majidli, Public Relations, Press and Information Department of the Presidium Administration of ANAS

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