An international scientific conference titled “Application of Natural Science Methods in Archaeological Research” was held in Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan. The event was organized by the A.Kh. Margulan Institute of Archaeology of Kazakhstan, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan, and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research — an international intergovernmental research organization co-founded by the Republic of Azerbaijan and headquartered in Dubna, Russian Federation. The conference was dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research.

Conference participants presented results on the application of nuclear physics, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, microtomography, spectroscopy, and isotopic geochronology in the study of archaeological monuments and artifacts, as well as the use of muonography for scanning underground and above-ground historical architectural structures.

Representing the Republic of Azerbaijan at the conference — alongside scholars from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia — was Parviz Gasimov, PhD in History and Leading Researcher at the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS. He delivered a presentation titled “Application of Natural Science Methods in Archaeological Research in Azerbaijan During the Independence Period.” The report discussed innovations introduced into Azerbaijani archaeology through advanced technologies, particularly radiocarbon dating, isotopic analysis, and genetic research, and how the results have partially or fully revised certain earlier hypotheses.

Special attention was given to studies conducted at the ancient human sites of Azikh and Taglar caves, where research carried out with European and Japanese specialists employed Optical Stimulated Luminescence (OSL), Cosmogenic Radionuclide (CRN), biomarker, and paleoproteomic analyses. Gasimov also noted that, under a cooperation agreement between the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS and Karabakh University, the Azykh Archaeological Research and Analysis Laboratory is currently being established.

Conference participants visited the nuclear reactor center and nuclear laboratories of the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan. During the visit, nuclear technologies used for sterilizing ancient artifacts, manuscripts, and archival documents were demonstrated.

Participants of the international event were also invited to the opening of the exhibition “Interdisciplinary Integration in Archaeology” at the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan. The exhibition showcased artifacts discovered during archaeological research in Kazakhstan and presented the results of their analysis using natural science methods.