From August 25 to October 5, 2024, “Scientific-archaeological excavations in Keshikchidagh and Summer school-4” project in the Karvan valley mounds is jointly organized by the State Service of Cultural Heritage Conservation, Development and Rehabilitation under the Ministry of Culture and Institute of Archeology and Anthropology of ANAS, with the support of the Aghstafa District Executive Authority, being carried out under the leadership of the leading researcher of the Institute of Archeology and Anthropology of ANAS, PhD on history, associate professor Shamil Najafov. The main goal of the project is to preserve and promote the historical and cultural heritage, increase historical knowledge, involve the young generation in the preservation of cultural heritage, develop the professional skills of young archaeologists, and acquire the skills of cultural volunteers to conduct excavation and field archaeological work.
In this regard, on 28.09.2024, a scientific seminar dedicated to the project “Scientific-archaeological excavations in Keshikchidagh and summer school-4” was held in the Heydar Aliyev Center of Aghstafa District by the “Keshikchidagh” State Historical-Cultural Reserve on the initiative of the State Service of Cultural Heritage Conservation, Development and Rehabilitation under the Ministry of Culture and the Institute of Archeology and Anthropology of ANAS, with the support of the Aghstafa District Executive Power.
The scientific seminar was organized with the participation of Emin Ibrahimov, representative of the State Service of Cultural Heritage Conservation, Development and Rehabilitation under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Hamil Hasanov and Jalal Nasibov, representatives of the Aghstafa District Executive Power, young volunteers, history teachers, and district intellectuals. The main purpose of conducting the scientific seminar is to bring to the attention of the public the information and results of scientific research and archaeological excavations carried out in the territory of the reserve. The scientific seminar began with a visit to the monument of the Great Leader erected in front of the Heydar Aliyev Center of Aghstafa district. Later, the guests got acquainted with the exhibition of material and cultural samples found in the territory of the reserve, printed products belonging to the reserve, including the process of restoration of artifacts by the reserve employee, found in a fragmented state in the reserve area.
Musa Mursaguliyev, the director of the “Keshikchidagh” State Historical-Cultural Reserve, first declared the seminar open and gave a speech expedition leader of the project “Scientific-archaeological excavations in Keshikchidagh and Summer School-4”, leading researcher of the ANAS Institute of Archeology and Anthropology, doctor of philosophy on history, docent Shamil Najafov. Leading researcher of the Institute of Archeology and Anthropology of ANAS, Doctor of Philosophy on History, docent Vagif Asadov, researcher of the Institute of Archeology and Anthropology of ANAS, restorer-artist Farhad Farmanov talked about the archaeological works and the results obtained.
Later, Indira Samadova, honored history teacher, head teacher of Gazakh branch of Baku State University, history teachers of the region, employees of other reserves, and monument guards of the Ganja Regional Department of the State Service spoke. Also, Firuza Mammadova, an employee of the “Keshikchidagh” State Historical-Cultural Reserve, made a speech and brought to the attention of the participants of the seminar statistical information about the number of excursionists who came to the archaeological site during the project, the number of views on the project’s television channels, newspapers, websites, and social networks of the reserve. Scientific staff of reserves operating under the State Service of Cultural Heritage Conservation, Development and Rehabilitation under the Ministry of Culture joined the scientific seminar online through the Zoom platform.
