From August 25 to October 5, 2024, the State Service for the Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture and the Institute of Archeology and Anthropology of ANAS jointly organized under the leadership of Shamil Najafov, the leading researcher of ANAS , PhD in history, associate professor. The project called “Keshikchidagh Scientific-archaeological excavations and Summer school 4 ” is being implemented in the Karvan valley mounds.

This year’s excavations are being carried out in the mound graves in the Karvan Valley area of the Jeyranchol plain. The area is a flat area with low-height dense vegetation, open sloping hills, and in some places, shallow ravines formed due to the heavy flow of rain and flood waters. 90% of the territory is visible to the eye, and archaeological monuments (mainly mounds) can be observed from afar. The field surface has a relief structure. Excavations are being carried out in parallel in 3 mounds. 4 barrow monuments were registered in the area at a close distance from each other. One of them was excavated in previous years. Excavation of the remaining 3 mound monuments is being carried out this year. The mounds are located at a distance of about 10-40 m from each other.

It should be noted that the main goal of the project is the preservation and promotion of the historical and cultural heritage,historical knowledge improvement ,the young generation’s involvement in the preservation of the cultural heritage,the professional skills’development of young archaeologists,cultural volunteers’ acquisition skills to conduct excavation and field archaeological work. Also,the project can be considered as a preparatory course for future historians, archaeologists, tourism and geographers.

During the project, young volunteers, history teachers, students and masters of the Kazakh branch of Baku State University, Karabakh University, Kazakh Center of ADA University, students of Kazakh State Socio-Economic College, monument guardians, employees of History and Geography Museums and regional intellectuals.

The project is being successfully continued and results have already been achieved. Scythian arrowheads, fish ears and paste beads, pottery samples, cooked animal bones were discovered in the archaeological excavations conducted in the Karvan valley mounds. Among these findings, bronze ceramic wares probably belonging to the Khojaly-Gadabey culture and BC. A Scythian arrowhead from the 7th century is of particular interest.

After that, it is expected that the project will be successfully continued and valuable results will be achieved.

APA