page 31–43 RUS
ÓÄÊ 903.53 EDN: FXXPAK
Archaeological excavations in the Avey State Historical and Cultural Reserve in 2024
Shamil N., Najafov, PhD in History, leading researcher, Institute of Archaeology & Anthropology Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan Republic, shamil_necefov@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8834-7188
Summary
This article presents the results of archaeological excavations conducted in the Gazakh region of western Azerbaijan, specifically within the Avey State Historical and Cultural Reserve. The reserve is notable for the presence of Bronze Age burial sites, predominantly represented by burial mounds (kurgans). In recent years, archaeological research in the reserve has intensified, with approximately 40 burial mounds identified across the area. In 2024, seven kurgans were excavated within the Avey Reserve, yielding a substantial assemblage of archaeological materials that provide new insights into the religious beliefs of this region of Azerbaijan. Based on their type, structure, and associated material sources, the examined burial mounds are primarily dated to the end of the Middle Bronze Age and the beginning of the Late Bronze Age, specifically the 15th–13th centuries BC. These kurgans exhibit low embankments. In our opinion, the kurgans located at the Damjili and Goyazan necropolises (within the Avey Reserve) are more accurately described as stone-covered mounds. The use of mountain stone as a primary construction material and the structure of the burial mounds likely reflect the local natural, geographical, and environmental conditions. Excavations at the Damjili and Goyazan kurgans have also revealed evidence indicating a prolonged period of use for the mound field as a burial site, spanning from the late 2nd to the early 1st millennium BC. The location of the kurgan field is particularly noteworthy, as it is situated at the intersection of ancient routes used by nomadic herders — specifically, routes leading to alpine meadows and winter pastures. The recovered assemblage includes ceramic vessels, metal objects, bronze ornaments, and numerous beads. The territory of the Avey State Historical and Cultural Reserve and its adjacent areas are rich in ancient cultural monuments, ranking among the most significant in the republic. Functioning as an open-air museum, the reserve preserves a wide variety of sites of diverse appearance and content. The article introduces, for the first time, findings from the excavation of seven kurgans at the Avey burial ground (Western Azerbaijan) into scholarly discourse.
Keywords: Azerbaijan, Gazakh, Avey, Damjili, Goyazan, Bronze Age, kurgans.
© Najafov Sh.N., 2026
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Received 16.10.2025
Accepted 02.03.2026
Article is published: 15.06.2026
Funding. This work was financially supported by the Avey State Historical and Cultural Reserve and the State Service for the Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan; the analysis, description of the collection, and field data were completed under a government contract.
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