From Baku to Keshikchidag: A Tour of Archaeological Research and Historical-Cultural Heritage.
Recently, interest in historical monuments located in the Western region, including the territory of the “Keshikchidag” State Historical and Cultural Reserve in the Aghstafa district, has been steadily growing. On October 11, 2026, a group of visitors from Baku visited the “Keshikchidag” State Historical and Cultural Reserve, which operates under the management of the State Service for Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture.
The purpose of the visit was to closely explore the archaeological research carried out within the framework of the “Scientific-Archaeological Excavations and Summer School 6 in Keshikchidag” project, implemented in partnership with the ANAS Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, as well as the Keshikchidag cave complex. The guests first examined the archaeological excavation work being conducted at the Sariyokhush burial mounds (kurgans) located in the Keshikchidag Kurgan Valley, along with the uncovered artifacts. The head of the expedition, leading researcher at the ANAS Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, PhD in History Vagif Asadov, provided the visitors with detailed information about the progress of the research, the excavation process, and the discovered archaeological materials. Later, the visitors visited the “Peak named after Ilham Aliyev” and the cave complex situated in this area. Azad Zeynalov, a leading researcher at the ANAS Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, PhD in History, Associate Professor, and Stone Age specialist who has conducted research in the reserve for many years, informed the tourists about the frescoes preserved on the walls and ceilings of the caves, as well as the water wells and food storage units. Such visits play a crucial role in promoting the rich archaeological and historical-cultural heritage of Keshikchidag, increasing public interest in scientific research, and advocating for cultural heritage.
