The joint US-Azerbaijani archaeological expedition has revealed new findings in Nakhchivan.
The ceramic samples of the Khojaly-Gedabey culture were found during the archeological digs in the ancient settlement Oglangala in the Sharur region of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
'The digs held in Oglangala fortress city revealed the residuals of ancient buildings, including a big palace dating to the period of the ancient states of Midia and Atropatena, ancient graves, a number of other samples of material culture', said Veli Bakhshaliyev, one of the leaders of the expedition, organized by the Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Nakhchivan Department of the National Academy of Science of Azerbaijan in cooperation with the archaeologists of the Pennsylvania University (USA).
According to the academician, new findings were revealed during the research.
'The samples of ceramics dated to the Khojaly-Gedabey culture we found in Oglangala show that Khojaly-Gedabey tribes settled in this fortress city in the late 2-early 1 millennium BC', the academician said. He said the previous researches of the expedition revealed that Oglangala was the center of an ancient state and it was subjected to attacks of ancient state of Urartu.
'We wondered how such a strong state as Urartu failed to occupy the Oglangala city. Based on the result of the digs, it can be said for sure that Oglangala was a center of an independent ancient state which was fighting with Urartu.
Ancient ancestors of the local people residing in this territory have created a rich culture, constructed a grandeur palace with big columns', said another head of the expedition, professor of the Pennsylvania University Lauren Ristvit. She said the joint US-Azerbaijani archaeological expedition has been holding studies in Sharur region since 2008 and intends to continue studies next year.
Source: Armenia News [August 09, 2010]