Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

On October 8, a presentation ceremony of the book “Azykh Cave – The Oldest Human Settlement in the Territory of Azerbaijan,” published in English, was held at the main building of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS).

The book was co-authored by Professor Asadulla Jafarov, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Head of the Department of Stone Age Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS.

At the beginning, participants viewed an exhibition in the foyer featuring Professor Asadulla Jafarov’s books on the Stone Age and primitive communal history of Azerbaijan, the Caucasus, and Europe, as well as on the ancient history of Karabakh.

Opening the ceremony, Academician Isa Habibbayli, President of ANAS, emphasized the scientific and political significance of the book, which is the result of many years of intensive research conducted by eight distinguished Azerbaijani scientists and Professor Jafarov. He noted that the 415-page monograph, consisting of 10 chapters, was first published in Russian in 2021, after Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty, including over Azykh Cave. Taking into account the role of the Azykh Cave in world archaeology and paleoanthropology, the monograph was translated into English and published with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Academician Isa Habibbayli recalled that the first presentation of this unique publication was held in London within the framework of the International Book Fair, organized by the Ministry of Culture and supported by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the United Kingdom. He praised this initiative as a significant step in promoting Azerbaijani science internationally, noting that the presentation of the book “Azykh Cave – The Oldest Human Settlement in the Territory of Azerbaijan” at such a prestigious global event reflects deep respect for Professor Asadulla Jafarov’s scholarly work and pays tribute to the memory of late Azerbaijani scientists who contributed to this field.

The ANAS President underlined that Azykh Cave holds immense scientific value not only for Azerbaijan but for world science as a whole. He reminded that the cave was discovered in the 1960s as a result of excavations led by Mammadali Huseynov, a prominent archaeologist and head of the Paleolithic Archaeological Expedition of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences in the Karabakh region.

Reflecting on Professor Asadulla Jafarov’s distinguished academic career, Academician Isa Habibbayli particularly noted his book “Paleolithic Sites of Karabakh.” He emphasized that this publication, dedicated to the scientific interpretation of the material cultural remains unearthed during comprehensive research at the world-renowned Azykhand Taghlar ancient human settlements in Karabakh, is a valuable source for both present and future generations. The work also provides factual evidence disproving claims made by certain Armenian “researchers” attempting to falsify the history of the Azykh settlement.

Academician Isa Habibbayli further stated that the book also draws attention to the resettlement policy and reconstruction projects carried out in the liberated territories under the decisive “Iron Fist” leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.

According to the ANAS President, Azykh Cave is among the historical heritage sites in Karabakh that suffered damage under Armenian occupation. He noted that the Armenian occupiers once turned the cave into a weapons depot and later, involving foreign researchers, conducted illegal archaeological excavations in an attempt to appropriate Azerbaijan’s ancient heritage. On the instruction of the Head of State, the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Azerbaijanlaunched a criminal case based on collected evidence, and appeals were sent to international organizations affirming that the Azykh site is historically Azerbaijani.

He added that, like all other territories of Karabakh, Azykh has now been fully liberated. Currently, extensive research is being carried out there with the participation of scientists from Japan, Denmark, and other countries. Academician Isa Habibbayli stressed the importance of publishing articles on Azykh Cave, Azerbaijan’s historical treasure, in high-impact international journals, and encouraged researchers to expand their work in this direction.

The academician also emphasized the need for systematic studies on the history of Caucasian Albania, an important component of Azerbaijani statehood, and its ancient temples, whose research was deliberately obstructed during the Soviet period. He underscored the importance of communicating historical truths about these tangible cultural monuments and their Azerbaijani origin to the international scientific community.

Concluding his remarks, Academician Isa Habibbayli stated that the English-language edition of the book represents a significant scientific source for researchers of world archaeology and wished the co-author new creative success.

At the event, Professor Anar Isgandarov, Chairman of the Science and Education Committee of the Milli Majlis (Parliament); Dr. Vasif Gafarov, Member of Parliament and Senior Researcher at the Institute of History and Ethnology; Dr. Farhad Guliyev, Director of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, PhD in History, Associate Professor; and other speakers noted that the English edition of the work is a valuable source not only for the scientific community but also as a potential legal reference at the international level.

The speakers highlighted the lifelong contributions of Professor Asadulla Jafarov to science, emphasizing his successful research on the ancient history of Karabakh, and the Azykh, Taghlar, and Gazma Paleolithic sites. Under his leadership, the Paleolithic Archaeological Expedition discovered the Gazma site in Nakhchivan, the Middle Shurtan site in Kalbajar, and the Buzeyir and Zuvandchay Paleolithic sites in Lerik District.

In his closing remarks, Professor Asadulla Jafarov, co-author of the book, expressed his gratitude to the organizers and participants of the event, spoke about his scientific research, and shared his thoughts on the publication.

Translation: Gulhane Aghayeva, Department of Public Relations, Press and Information Office of the Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

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