Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

The Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography at the Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) continues studies on monuments, dating to the Neolithic and the Bronze ages, revealed in the territory of Gabala region.

The expedition "Ancient Gabala" is working at the site of an ancient settlement called Galayeri (Leylatepe archeological culture) in the territory of the Gabala International Airport, Day.az reported.

Thousands of artifacts made of clay, stones, metal, and bones have been found at the site, which has a history dating back to the first half of the 4th millennium B.C.

Archeologists say a variety of potteries found here were made by potter’s wheel, as in other Middle East cultures.

ANAS deputy director Najaf Museyibli said that another interesting fact is the discovery of an ancient catacomb at the site.

The catacomb dates back to the same period when the site was first settled—some 6,000 years ago and is more ancient than any other catacomb found in Europe and the Caucasus.

A human skeleton buried with more than a hundred jewelries and 30 potteries have been also discovered in Gabal’s Dizakhli village.

A comparison of these artifacts with others allows to specify the distinct features of Eastern Caucasus culture which covered the areas of Shirvan, Guba-Khachmaz, Southern Dagestan, especially the areas surrounding Derbent.

The ANAS is the main state research organization and the primary body that conducts research and coordinates activities in the fields of science and social sciences in Azerbaijan. It was established on 23 January 1945.

The Academy closely cooperates with different foreign research institutions and organizes international scientific workshops and conferences in Azerbaijan.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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