Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

Regular meeting of the Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences was held.

The event was attended by academician Isa Habibbeyli, president of ANAS, members of the Presidium, heads of departments of the Presidium administration, and other relevant individuals.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli opened the meeting and provided information on the agenda.

Firstly, academician Nargiz Akhundova, ANAS Corresponding Members Geylani Panahov and Ayyub Guliyev were presented with ANAS Honorary Certificates on the occasion of their anniversaries.

In his opening speech at the event, academician Isa Habibbeyli mentioned that during the meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia held in Baku on August 18-19, 2024, President Ilham Aliyev expressed concerns about the ecological problems of the Caspian Sea. He noted that the heads of states agreed to address the ecological disaster and determine solutions.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli, referring to the President's speech, emphasized the importance of discussing reports on the current ecological state of the Caspian Sea during the Presidium meeting. He noted that two reports would be presented at the meeting, focusing on the sea level changes in the Caspian Sea and ongoing archaeological research.

The head of ANAS noted that the presented reports are further contributions of Azerbaijani science to the prestigious COP-29 climate conference to be held in Baku and to the “Green World Solidarity Year” declared by the head of state for 2024.

Later, at the meeting, Professor Amir Aliyev, Doctor of geographical sciences and head of the department of the Institute of Geography named after H. A. Aliyev, delivered a report on “Changes in the Level of the Caspian Sea in Modern Times: Causes and Consequences.”

The speaker stated that the level of the Caspian Sea has undergone three sharp changes over the past 100 years, with the average annual sea level dropping by 3.2 meters between 1930 and 1977 and rising by up to 2.5 meters between 1978 and 1995. He noted that as a result of this process, up to 50,000 hectares of land in the 850 km coastal zone of the republic were flooded.

The scientist mentioned that the Caspian Sea's level decreased by 2 meters between 1996 and 2023, and this process is ongoing, with 38,000 hectares of land in the coastal zone of our republic emerging from under the sea during that period.

“Azerbaijan is the country that has suffered the most from the fluctuations in the Caspian Sea's level among the five Caspian littoral states. Currently, more than half of our population and around 80% of our industrial potential are located in the Caspian coastal area. The sharp rise in the Caspian Sea level between 1978 and 1995 caused significant damage to industrial and agricultural infrastructure located in the coastal zone,” said Professor Amir Aliyev.

The scientist also noted that if the Caspian Sea level drops 1.5 meters from its current state, several retreats and other significant ecological problems could occur in the Nabran-Shabran coastal area, the Absheron Peninsula, the Southwest region, and the Baku Bay.

In his speech, Professor Amir Aliyev also presented his proposals regarding the ecological problems of the Caspian Sea.

After the presentation, extensive discussions were held on the topic, and several important decisions were adopted by the Presidium. 

Later, Abbas Seyidov, Doctor of historical sciences and head of the Caspian Archaeology Department of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, presented a report on “The Archaeology of the Caspian Sea: History and Modernity.” The report says that in the second half of the 20th century, underwater archaeological research in Azerbaijan came into the spotlight. Preparations for studying the underwater historical-archaeological monuments of the Caspian Sea began following the decree of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR dated July 24, 1968, and the decision of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR dated August 9, 1968. 

With Doctor of historical sciences Zelik Yampolski as the scientific advisor, practical work was entrusted to diver Viktor Kvachidze. Over a period of 19 years, including 1986, V. Kvachidze conducted research along the Caspian coast and islands, discovering more than 4,000 material-cultural artifacts. The investigations were carried out at Shuvulan Cape, the eastern part of the Absheron Peninsula opposite Gurgan Cape, the Baku Bay and Sabail underwater fortress, as well as the ancient channel of the Kura River and Bandovan Cape in the Salyan region.

The report emphasized that, in line with structural reforms carried out in ANAS, the Caspian Archaeology Department was established within the structure of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, based on internal resources, according to the decision of the ANAS Presidium dated July 12, 2023. This department is intended to conduct underwater research in the Caspian Sea as well as archaeological research along coastal areas and other water bodies.

The author noted that from August 27 to September 12, 2024, the Caspian Archaeological Expedition of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology conducted archaeological surveys in the Zira and Pirallahi areas of the Khazar district of the Absheron Peninsula, as well as Shahri-Gurgan belonging to the middle ages. During these investigations, the remains of two sunken ships from the 19th century and ceramic artifacts dating back to the 12th-14th centuries were discovered.

After the presentation of the report, a decision to strengthen the activities of the Caspian Archaeology Department in order to conduct archaeological research in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea and coastal areas was adopted by the Presidium. This also includes carrying out new studies on archaeological monuments with known coordinates in the coastal zones, registering and investigating newly discovered monuments, clarifying their coordinates, studying their architectural structure, mapping them, and performing other necessary tasks.

Following this, several scientific and organizational issues were discussed at the meeting.

It was also decided to hold an international scientific conference on “Asian Literature: Priorities and Challenges” at the Institute of Literature named after Nizami Ganjavi in cooperation with the ANAS Presidium.

The issue of involving specialists from various scientific fields across ANAS in archaeological expeditions was also discussed at the meeting. Academician Isa Habibbeyli stated that the participation of experts in fields such as history, ethnography, linguistics, paleogeography, architecture, paleobotany, paleozoology, and others during archaeological expeditions could create broader opportunities for the systematic and comprehensive study of our country’s rich material and cultural heritage in the future. 

The decision on participation of the specialists from different scientific fields within ANAS in archaeological expeditions under the coordination of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology was adopted by the Presidium.  

Additionally, the meeting addressed the participation of ANAS in the 10th International Book Fair, dedicated to the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet Mahammad Fuzuli.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli said that the 10th Baku International Book Fair, dedicated to the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet Mahammad Fuzuli, will be held from October 3 to 8, 2024, at the Baku Expo Center, with the organization of the Ministry of Culture. The fair will feature the participation of about 200 local and international organizations, over 90 prominent literary figures, and the organization of more than 200 various events, with an expected attendance of around 60,000 visitors.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli noted that ANAS will participate in the fair with a special stand and has given relevant instructions to the heads of scientific institutions and organizations.

A Commission to ensure ANAS’s participation in the 10th Baku International Book Fair and to organize necessary events and discussions within the framework of the book fair was established by the Presidium.

During the meeting, academicians including Arif Hashimov, Dilgam Tagiyev, Rasim Aliquliyev, Irada Huseynova, Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, Doctor of historical sciences Zemfira Hajiyeva, Professor Karim Shukurov, and Ph.D. in history Farhad Guliyev, and others, voiced their questions and suggestions on the discussed matters.

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

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