Title: Yovshanlidere Kurgans
Location: Jeyranchol, Keshikchidagh Valley of Kurgans
Date of Discovery: December 2024
Period: Middle Bronze Age
The Yovshanlidere area is situated in Jeyranchol, forming a long and narrow depression that extends southeastward from Jandargol. The toponym “Yovşanlıdərə” is associated with the pastoral population, who named this narrow strip after the dense growth of wormwood (Artemisia) in the area. The kurgan burials of Yovshanlidere are arranged either side by side or at certain intervals from one another. The valley is bounded on the east and west by relatively sloping elevated hills, with the kurgans located approximately 50–60 meters below these elevations. Yovşanlıdərə extends from the mentioned highway towards Aghgol, with a width of about 600–800 meters and a length of 5–6 kilometers, easily discernible to the eye and characterized by low hillocks.
The Yovshanlidere kurgans were discovered during archaeological survey excavations conducted in December 2024. The research was carried out within the framework of the project “Scientific–Archaeological Excavations and Summer School 5 in Keshikchidagh”, under the supervision of Associate Professor Shamil Najafov, PhD in History, senior researcher at the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. The diameters of these kurgans measure 16, 18, and 22 meters, with elevations rising 1–2.5 meters above the present ground surface.
