Since 17 July, the expedition of the Department of Classical Period and Archaeology of Caucasian Albania of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS — dedicated to the archaeological study of the material and cultural heritage of Caucasian Albania — has been conducting excavations at the “Kilsedagh Temple Complex” located in Böyük Əmili village of the Gabala district.

Archaeological investigations carried out on the Acropolis formed around the Kilsedagh complex recorded not only defensive walls but also the foundation remains of towers constructed in strategically important positions. These towers played a key defensive role by allowing 180-degree observation of the surrounding area. Depending on the terrain, they were built in rectangular and semicircular forms.

This information was provided to AZERTAC by Natig Alishov, PhD in History, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Classical Period and Archaeology of Caucasian Albania  at the Institute, and director of the expedition.

According to him, archaeological work has also continued within the internal structures of small хозяйственные (utility) rooms whose foundations had been traced during the 2022–2024 field seasons. Material culture remains discovered inside these rooms mainly consist of unglazed and glazed ceramics from the Classical, Early Medieval, and Medieval periods, bricks and roof tiles, fragments of glass vessels, obsidian fragments, weapon samples, and iron and stone tools.

Excavations have continued in trench F (12.50 × 12.50 m), where research began in 2024. Within this square, in the southwestern sector close to the Kilsedagh circular temple, archaeologists recorded a new circular foundation-based architectural structure.

The newly discovered circular temple has a stone foundation wall 1.40 m thick and a diameter of approximately 12.70 m. It shows parallels with the temple discovered in 1971 by archaeologist Rahim Vahidov.

Part of the eastern wall of the newly identified circular structure penetrates beneath the lower section of the western entrance of the Kilsedagh circular temple uncovered in the 1970s. This feature is interpreted as evidence of a long-standing continuity of ritual activity at the site and allows researchers to trace the dynamics of architectural development.

Wall remains traced within the boundaries of Trenches F, D, C, E, and G — studied during the 2023–2024 seasons — were fully observable in Trenches F and D. In the next research season, deeper excavation in Trenches C, E, and G will enable study of the northwestern and northeastern sections of the newly discovered circular temple. Each of Trenches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G measures 12.50 × 12.50 m and has been included in the research grid extending west–east and north–south.

According to the researcher, the superimposition of cultural layers near Mount Əmili, ranging from the Paleolithic to the Late Medieval period, together with visible remains of defensive walls stretching from the foothills to the summit, highlights the strategic importance of the area.

Archaeological work at the site continued until 25 August.

Source: AZERTAC