Azerbaijani and German Archaeologists Conduct Research at the Agaliğtepe

Jerusalem, 8 May, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Baku (AZERTAC) – In accordance with the memorandum of understanding signed between the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and the Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg, Germany, the archaeological expedition has completed the field research planned for the current year.

The institute told AZERTAC about this. It was noted that the expedition was led by the institute’s leading researcher, Associate Professor Shamil Najafov, and Professor Martin Gruber, Head of the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg.

Archaeological excavations were conducted in the village of Dag Kaseman in the Agstafa region at the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age settlement of Aghaliqtepe. The purpose of conducting the archaeological excavations and selecting the Aghaliqtepe settlement as an excavation site was to determine the distribution area of ​​the Khojaly-Gadabay archaeological culture in the region and the absolute age of the archaeological finds, as well as to determine the characteristics of settlement in the area during the late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age.

The results of the preliminary research on the selected excavation area of ​​more than 200 square meters in the territory of the monument, which has a total area of ​​approximately 2.5 hectares, give grounds to say that the cultural layer deposit is very rich.

Along with the farm buildings (very deep and large diameter farm wells), hearths and devices, remains of mud bricks, floor areas, and the remains of rooms with a rectangular plan were discovered here. Ceramic samples are of various shapes and contents. The heads of the looms indicate that weaving developed as an art form.

Stone tools prove that the ancient inhabitants of the area were engaged in agriculture in addition to cattle breeding. The preliminary results of the research give grounds to say that during the mentioned period, the ancient inhabitants of Agaliğtepe densely settled in the area and were engaged in various fields of agriculture.

Archaeological research will continue next year.