On April 13–14, 2026, an international scientific conference titled “Current Issues in the Archaeological and Anthropological Study of the Ganja-Gazakh Region” was held. The event was jointly organized by the State Service for the Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS, the Executive Power of Aghstafa District, the “Avey” State Historical and Cultural Reserve, and the “Keshikchidagh” State Historical and Cultural Reserve.
The conference was dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth of Mansur Mansurov, a leading researcher of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS, a Paleolithic specialist, PhD in history, associate professor, as well as to April 18 – the International Day for Monuments and Sites. The main purpose of the conference was to preserve the history and cultural heritage of the region, strengthen scientific and archaeological research, and present the scientific legacy of the prominent scholar Mansur Mansurov to a wide audience. The conference was held at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Aghstafa district and was attended by representatives of the State Service, scholars of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, officials of the Aghstafa District Executive Power, teachers from Ganja State University and the Gazakh branch of Baku State University, master’s students from Baku State University and ADA University’s Gazakh center, as well as staff and leadership of various state historical and cultural reserves. The conference began with an exhibition featuring archaeological findings and cultural artifacts obtained from research and excavations conducted in the reserve area. Sculptural and restoration works by Vugar Guliyev were also presented. During his speech, he provided detailed information about the process of reconstructing and restoring historical artifacts.
The official part of the conference started with the National Anthem of Azerbaijan, followed by a minute of silence in memory of Heydar Aliyev and the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country. Speeches were delivered by various scholars and officials on the importance of preserving historical monuments, current directions in Paleolithic research, and the scientific contributions of Mansur Mansurov. A video presentation about Mansur Mansurov’s life and scientific work was also shown. In the plenary session, numerous scholars delivered presentations according to the program. The second part of the conference was organized in sessions, both in-person and online. Researchers from Azerbaijan, as well as representatives from Kazakhstan’s Sarayshyk State Historical and Cultural Reserve and the “Ancient Taraz” Museum-Reserve, participated in the online sessions. More than 70 articles and theses were accepted for the conference, and all participants were awarded certificates.
