ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH CONDUCTED AT THE IMARET COMPLEX

(April 2023 – December 2023)

 

On April 5, 2023, the “Aghdam” archaeological expedition of the Institute of Archaeology, Ethnography,
and Anthropology of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences began archaeological research at the
palace of Panah Ali Khan and the historical cemetery located within the Imaret Complex in Aghdam city (GPS coordinates: 39°59’33.14″N 46°56’19.00″E). The initial phase of the research was completed in December 2023.
The Aghdam Imaret Complex, which is diamond-shaped, was divided into squares, each with an area of 100 square meters (10×10 m), using the northwest wall of the complex as a reference point by the expedition team. A detailed excavation plan was prepared. The research revealed that the historical cemetery within the Imaret Complex covers an area of 6,000 square meters (including squares A1-A8, B1-B8, C1-C5, D1-D5, E1-E4, F1-F4, G1-G4, H1-H4, I1-I4, J1-J4, K1-K4, and L1-L4). The research for December 2023 concluded with excavations conducted in 60 archaeological squares, covering a total area of 6,000 square meters.

The remains of five tombs within the historical cemetery of the Imaret Complex were included in the research area. The interiors and surroundings of the tombs were cleared of the waste left by the pig farming that Armenian occupiers had established inside these monuments. The completely destroyed Tomb No. 2 was also cleared of all debris.

As a result of the research, 213 Muslim graves were discovered within the Complex area. These graves belong to different periods, ranging from the late medieval period to the early 20th century. Based on their construction, the graves are either simple earth graves or vaulted tombs built from traditional locally crafted or industrially produced red bricks. Eighteen of these graves are located within the tombs: 1) tomb No. 1: 4 graves (2 vaulted tombs, 2 earth graves); 2) tomb No. 2: 7 vaulted tombs; 3) tomb No. 3: 1 vaulted tomb; 4) tomb No. 4: 3 graves (2 vaulted tombs, 1 earth grave); 5) tomb No. 5: 3 graves (2 vaulted tombs, 1 earth grave). Additionally, 4 vaulted tombs were found behind the obelisk of Khurshidbanu Natavan (in square A6), 2 in square A4, and 4 in square A2.

Samples for DNA analysis were taken from all the graves within the tombs that had been damaged and used for pig farming during the Armenian occupation (except one child’s grave where the skeleton was completely eroded), as well as from one earth grave on the southern side of Khurshidbanu Natavan’s obelisk and three vaulted tombs on the western side. The age and sex of the skeletons in the tomb graves were determined. The number of graves and the number, sex, and age of the individuals buried in the tombs differ from the information found in some written sources.

All of the headstones and chest stones from the graves were destroyed by the Armenian occupiers, with most being removed from the Complex area and used as construction material. The research uncovered 59 fragments of stone monuments (headstones, chest stones, an ancient column base, and an anthropomorphic statue) in the cemetery area, which were recorded with archaeological field notation. Due to the broken headstone fragments, the exact identification of only 2 of the 213 graves could be determined. The majority of the headstones of graves established from the 1930s to the 1970s were destroyed, and the graves were disturbed by Armenian occupiers in an attempt to steal gold dental prosthetics from the jaws of the skeletons.

Research conducted outside the investigation area of the Complex included the following: 1) on the exterior of the northwest wall, the remains of ancient building foundations were discovered among the ruins of houses destroyed by Armenian occupiers (designated as “Namazgah”); 2) eighteen Muslim graves, marked as A13 and discovered in a new construction area, were moved to square L1 of the Complex and reburied; 3) to verify information about the existence of an ancient caravanserai, 14 test trenches were dug in the eastern part of the cemetery (near the ruins of the former stadium’s stands), and 7 trenches were dug in the southwestern corner of the cemetery at another indicated location. No evidence supporting the existence of an ancient caravanserai was found.

Farhad Guliyev, Parviz Gasimov