Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

The reports on the current ecological situation of the Caspian Sea and underwater archaeology were delivered during the next meeting of the Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

During his opening speech at the event, the president of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Academician Isa Habibbeyli said that within 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.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli, referring to the speech of President Ilham Aliyev, emphasized the necessity of discussing reports on the current ecological state of the Caspian Sea during the Presidium meeting. He said that discussions were held at the meeting on the sea level changes in the Caspian Sea and ongoing archaeological research.

The head of ANAS mentioned that the presented reports are further scientific 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, Professor Amir Aliyev, Doctor of geographical sciences and head of the Department of the Institute of Geography named after academician H. Aliyev of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, delivered a comprehensive 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 water 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.

 “The Republic of Azerbaijan is the state 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. It was also recommended to publish the report in the “Reports” journal of the Presidium of ANAS, which is issued in Azerbaijani, English, and Russian.

Later, Abbas Seyidov, Doctor of historical sciences and head of the new established 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 mentioned that underwater archaeological research was organized in Azerbaijan during the second half of the 20th century. With Doctor of historical sciences, head of the Department of the Museum of History of ANAS, 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. Subsequently, this work was stopped in the 80th of the 20th century.

The report emphasized that, in line with structural reforms carried out in ANAS within last two years, 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 of ANAS 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, ceramic artifacts dating back to the 12th-14th centuries and other archaeological materials 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.

It was also noted that an agreement has been reached to prepare a cooperation contract with the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company in order to organize archaeological research in the Caspian Sea and coastal area more efficiently.

The members of the Presidium of ANAS, Academician Arif Hashimov, Academician Rasim Aliquliyev, Academician Dilgam Tagiyev, Academician Irada Huseynova, Academician Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, as well as Doctor of historical sciences Zemfira Hajiyeva, Professor Karim Shukurov, and Ph.D. in history Farhad Guliyev, and others voiced their questions and suggestions in the extensive discussions related the reports on the current ecological situation of the Caspian Sea and underwater archaeology.

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

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