Azykh-Taghlar cave camps - Paleolithic camps of Azerbaijan
Baku, February 8, AZERTAC
As a result of the 44-day Patriotic War led by Victorious Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has not only liberated Karabakh - its internationally recognized lands from the almost 30-year long occupation, but also freed the Azykh-Taghlar cave camps which are considered to be sites of the most ancient locations of proto-human presence in Eurasia.
The Azykh cave remained under Armenia's occupation for nearly three decades following the capture of the Khojavand district on October 2 in 1992.
Khojavand district is located in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, an internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani army liberated the Hadrut settlement and dozens of villages of the Khojavand district, including home to the Azykh cave.
The Azykh cave camp, an archeological monument of global importance, is located in Azykh village of Khojavand district, in the Tug concave, on the left bank of the Guruchay river.
The Azykh Paleolithic cave is the largest of its kind in the entire Caucasus region. Azykh cave is the largest karstic cave in Azerbaijan, located in Khojavand district, at a height of 900 m. There are 6 cells connected with each other. Azykh is one of those rare caves of the Paleolithic period which started to be explored by the Azerbaijani researchers in 1960.
The first scientific exploration of the cavern was conducted by an archaeological expedition led by prominent Azerbaijani archeologist Mammadali Huseynov from 1960-1968.
The Azerbaijan scientists basing on scientific grounds have proven that the lower jawbone of an ancient man found in the Azykh cave dates back to 350-400 thousand years and this date was confirmed at the international scientific conferences. This is the third found relic in the world.
Over 3,000 stoneware, remnants of more than 45 various animals, and multiple prehistoric campfire traces have been found in the Azykh cave. The scientific examinations proved the primitive handmade instruments to date back to 1-1.5 million years ago.
Azykh cave confirms that the territory of Azerbaijan was obviously human inhabited 1 million years ago.
In 1992, the Armenian army used the Azykh cave as a military arms depot during the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh by the Armenian military forces.
When Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense has released video footages from the Azykh cave located in the liberated Khojavand district, this meant that a new period of restoration would also usher in this ancient site of Azerbaijan.
On November 9, 2020, Azykh village, which hosts one of the oldest human settlements in the world, was liberated from occupation.
Beside the Azykh cave, Taghlar cave camp, Garapokek tepe, Meynatepe and other historical monuments belonging to the Bronze Age and located in the once occupied territories of Azerbaijan were also destroyed.
Taghlar cave camp is the most immense cave camp in the territory of Khojavand region relating to the Mousterian culture.
The cave is very important in terms of remains of material culture, stratigraphy and long-term residence there.
Taghlar cave camp is located on the left shore of the Guruchay River. Since 1963, the Paleolit archaeological expedition conducted archeological excavations in Taghlar Mousterian camp.
As a result of excavations more than 7000 stone tools and more than 2000 animal bones were found there. 6 cultural layers were found out in sediments of Taghlar camp. Unlike all the other monuments existed in the entire Caucasus and the Near East, Taghlar was the only site that had a permanent settlement.
During early excavations carried out in Taghlar camp by M. Huseinov and A. Jafarov more than10 stone products and 1000 bones of hunted animals were found.
Taghlar is the only place in the Middle East and the Caucasus where it is possible to learn and to explore the long-term development of the tools and features of the formation of new instruments.
The archaeological studies conducted in Taghlar camp showed the existence of specific features of Moustier culture in Azerbaijan.
On November 9, 2020, Taghlar village, where the cave with the same name located, was also liberated from the Armenian occupation.
Chief of the State Service of Cultural Heritage Protection, Development and Restoration under the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan Azad Jafarli has recently told during a press conference that the issue of establishment of “Azykh-Taghlar cave camps” State Historical-Archaeological Reserve in Azerbaijan’s Khojavand district is being extensively discussed by the local authorities.
The fact that Azerbaijan is sparing no efforts to establish “Azykh-Taghlar cave camps” State Historical-Archaeological Reserve is another sign of country’s strong commitment to preserve its historic legacy and properly pass the following generations.
