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Archaeological excavations in Azerbaijan's Yardimli uncover remains dating back to 9th-10th centuries BC - PHOTO

04 September 2026 15:14 (UTC +04:00)

New findings have been uncovered as a result of archaeological excavations carried out in Yardimli, APA’s southern bureau reports.

New evidence regarding ancient burial customs has been revealed during archaeological excavations in the high-mountainous areas of Yardimli district.

As a result of research conducted at the Ogu burial mounds, human remains, fragments of pottery vessels and ritual objects have been discovered. The findings are expected to provide important information about the lifestyle and beliefs of tribes that lived in the region during the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages. Excavations by a 12-member archaeological team at the Ogu burial mound began in late August. In the upper layer of the monument, located among agricultural fields, a human skeleton and fragments of pottery vessels were uncovered at a depth of approximately 40 centimeters.

According to Anar Aghalarzade, leading researcher at the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, professor and doctor of history, associate professor, the main purpose of the excavations is to study the burial culture of ancient tribes that lived in the high-mountainous area, as well as to examine their production economy, craftsmanship and everyday life.

Preliminary findings indicate that the burial mound was also used in the 9th–10th centuries BC. Archaeologists do not rule out the possibility of uncovering older burials as they advance toward the central chamber.

Dmitriy Kirichenko, leading researcher and anthropologist at the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, said that according to preliminary results, the discovered bones belong to a young person.

The Ogu burial mound also stands out as the first large burial mound to be studied in a high-mountainous area. Around 10 more burial mounds of this type have been recorded nearby.

Human remains are not the only finds discovered in the covering of the burial mound. A stone tool and a thin stone slab believed to have had a ritual function have also attracted the attention of researchers.

It should be noted that archaeological excavations in the area will continue for some time, depending on the scope of the site and the nature of the artifacts to be discovered.