From 27 November to 3 December 2025, Dmitri Aleksandrovich Kirichenko, PhD in History, Associate Professor and Leading Researcher of the Department of Anthropology of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS, visited Wuhan, People’s Republic of China, at the invitation of Dr. Qun Zhang, Director of the Laboratory of Human Osteoarchaeology at Wuhan University, as well as the leadership of the University’s Department of Archaeology and School of History.

He delivered a lecture and presentation to university students on the anthropology and archaeology of Azerbaijan. The presentation generated strong interest among Wuhan University students and faculty in Azerbaijani anthropological and archaeological research.

During his visit, Kirichenko examined anthropological materials from the Neolithic, Bronze Age, and the Han dynasty of Ancient China (3rd century BCE – 3rd century CE) in the Laboratory of Human Osteoarchaeology.

Together with Dr. Qun Zhang, he held discussions on craniometry in Central China, paleopathological issues, and traditions of cremation and mummification. The scholars compared similarities and differences between Azerbaijani and Chinese physical anthropology and reviewed research methodologies used in China for anthropological materials.

The Chinese host organized an extensive cultural program for the Azerbaijani scholar. As part of this program, Kirichenko visited museums in Urumqi, Wuhan, and Beijing, toured the Great Wall of China, and became acquainted with archaeological and anthropological collections representing Chinese cultural heritage as well as major historical landmarks of the capital.