Second phase of scientific studies on Chovdar necropolis launched

The Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan (ANAS) has launched the second phase of scientific research of finds in the Chovdar necropolis with the support of Heydar Aliyev Foundation and AzerGold Closed Joint Stock Company.

According to the agreement signed between AzerGold CJSC and the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography in 2021, cameral studies of artifacts found in the Chovdar necropolis of Khojaly-Gadabay culture of the Late Bronze Age – Early Iron Age (late II – early I millennium BC) are ongoing. The main goal of the project is to study and promote our ancient cultural heritage more deeply, to preserve archaeological finds and pass them on to future generations.

It is worth noting that within the framework of the project, foreign specialists with rich experience in archaeology will be involved in scientific researches; analyses of isotopes C14, carbon (13C) and nitrogen (14N) will be carried out on human remains in accredited international laboratories in order to obtain detailed information, such as the gender, age, disease, cause of death, kinship and diet. In addition, it is planned to study paleo-ecological conditions, landscape, topography of Chovdar village in Dashkasan region and adjacent territories, and population density in the area during the study period. The project also targets to publish a series of articles in international scientific journals, as well as scientific reports and special publications, with the view to promote the work done and its results at the international level.

Remarkably, samples of ancient tombs were discovered in February 2019 during the construction work carried out by AzerGold CJSC at the Chovdar ore processing site in the Dashkesan region. Construction work on the territory was immediately suspended, an appeal was sent to the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography for field research. As a result, an archaeological expedition “Dashkasan” was organized under the leadership of the heads of departments of the institute, doctors of philosophy in history Safar Ashurov and Bakhtiyar Jalilov. The number of graves discovered during the five-month archaeological excavations has reached 156. More than 6,000 artifacts have been recovered from the graves.