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21-601: The ancient site of Gazma cave was discovered in 1983 during the Paleolithic archeological expedition headed by M.M.Huseynov and A.G.Jafarov in Ordubad and Sharur regions. Archeological excavations were carried out there under the leadership of A.G.Jafarov in 1987–1990, and A.Zeynalov in 2008–2013. A large number of archaeological materials were found in the cave during the research. More than 17,000 unearthed fauna fossils were examined by D.V.Hajiyev and S.D.Aliyev and it

42-595: A Stone Age department at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. He served as the chairman of the Archaeology and Ethnography Department of Azerbaijan State University from 1976 to 1993. In the 1980s, he took the initiative to create a museum-office of Archaeology and Ethnography at the Academy. In 1987 he received the title of Professor. Huseynov died on 5 July 1994, at

63-509: A fragment of the lower jaw of Homo erectus or Azykhantrop) and Taglar Cave. The discovery of Quruchay culture in Karabakh by Huseynov and his colleagues and also the monument of Azikh cave, as well as ancient Palaeolithic monuments that were found in Kazakh, Nakhichevan, Lerik and other regions of the country proved that Azerbaijan was a territory of initial occupation. Although Quruchay culture

84-687: A long time. The ancient layers of the Middle Paleolithic have yielded Neanderthal fossil remains that may date from around 300,000 years ago. The cave was discovered by the "Palaeolithic Archaeological Expedition" of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) under the leadership of Mammadali Huseynov in 1960 and is considered to be the site of one of the most ancient locations of proto-human presence in Eurasia . A Neanderthal -like jaw bone found in 1968

105-461: A result of hibernation, but no evidence for simultaneous occupation of the cave by bears and hominins. Other faunal remains, mainly herbivores, had been brought to the cave by hominins, but butchering had taken place somewhere else, not at the rear of the cave where the remains were found. When cave sediments reached close to the cave roof, the cave ceased to be used by hominins. During the Holocene ,

126-530: Is assumed to be over 300,000 years old and thus one of the oldest proto-human remains found in Central Asia. Its discovery gave rise to the term Azykh Man . Archaeologists have suggested that the finds from the lowest layers are of a pre- Acheulean culture (730,000 to 1,800,000 years ago), that resembles the Olduwan culture named after Tanzania 's Olduvai Gorge in many respects. The poor quality of

147-442: The 1960s excavation, in which no taphonomic data was collected, led to uncertainties over the chronological sequence of the layers. Excavations resumed in the mid-1990s. In 2002 an international research team headed by Tania King discovered undisturbed entrances to the cave as well as fauna and stone tools. Fossil assemblages recovered from the excavations between 2002 and 2009 found Pleistocene -era remains of bears accumulated as

168-596: The Middle Palaeolithic period. Stone tools of were discovered that provided information about the settlers and their livestock on the shores of the Quruchay river. The most essential scientific discovery of the Azikh cave is considered to be a piece of jaw with two teeth, which was found in 1968, in the 5th stratum. The scientific investigations that were carried out with modern methods and technical equipment of

189-686: The age of 72 years. Mammadali Murad oglu Huseynov wrote six books and 100 research works. He is considered to be the founder of Paleolithic Age studies in Azerbaijani schools. In 1960, Huseynov carried out excavations in the valleys of the Quruchay and Kondalanchay Rivers, and in Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan SSR. He found multilayer sites from the Paleolithic epoch in Azykh (where he found

210-673: The ancient peoples who settled in the territories of Azerbaijan during the Palaeolithic Age. Azikh cave played an important and special role among the monuments of the Palaeolithic period in Azerbaijan. As a result of the investigations, six huge halls and numerous archaeological materials, laid in 10 cultural stratums, were revealed. These belonged to the Lower Palaeolithic – the stages of shel, ashel as well as

231-604: The last quarter of the 20th century proved that this jaw belonged to an 18–22-year-old woman, who lived 350–400 thousand years ago, during the Middle Ashel Age of the Lower Palaeolithic Period. This discovery was the oldest item found in the territory of the USSR. The jaw was named "Azikhantrop" ("human from Azikh") and proved that the territory of Azerbaijan is one of the ancient settled territories of

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252-409: The layer was 15-20 cm. The second layer — consists of light-yellow clay soil. The difference between the first and second layers is clearly visible. No archeological findings. The total thickness of the layer was 20-25 cm. The third layer — consists of dark-yellow clay soil. During the excavations, bone fossils were beginning to be discovered. This layer is slightly thicker. The total thickness of

273-587: The layer was 35-40 cm. The fourth layer — consists of light-yellowish clay soil layer. Rock fractures and stalactite fragments fallen from the upper part of the cave were recorded. Beginning from the fourth layer, stone tools were also discovered along with bone fossils. 8 pieces of stone tools were found in the layer. All of them were obsidian. The total thickness of the layer was 25-30 cm. The fifth layer — consists of dark-yellow clay soil and light-gray layers in some areas. Rock fractures and stalactite fragments were recorded. Bones and stone tools were unearthed in

294-479: The layer. 13 pieces of stone tools were found in the layer. 11 of them are obsidian and 2 are flint. The total thickness of the layer was 30-35 cm. The sixth layer — consists of dark-brown clay soil. Unlike the other layers, in the sixth layer rock fractures and stalactite fragments were rarely found. Bones and stone tools were discovered in the layer. Mammadali Huseynov Mammadali Murad Oglu Huseynov ( Azerbaijani : Məmmədəli Murad oğlu Hüseynov )

315-587: The tools is similar to those derived from Azokh and Tağlar caves. The presence of several hearths in a small area in the cave indicates that primitive people living in Gazma utilized fire and lived here for a long time. During the Mousterian culture period, hunting played a particular role in the lives of Gazma inhabitants. 6 cultural layers were discovered in the cave. The first layer — consists of black soil. No archeological findings. The total thickness of

336-488: The upper sediments were eroded by water, opening up the cave to renewed human use. The cave is considered to have housed some of the earliest groups of proto-humans in Eurasia. Using uranium isotopes as a speleothem dating method, the formation of the cave and thus the earliest hominid deposits have been dated to 1.19 ±0.08 million years ago. On 24 November 2020, archeological finds in the cave were brought to Baku by

357-574: The world. Azokh Cave Azykh Cave ( Azerbaijani : Azıx mağarası ), also referred to as Azokh Cave ( Armenian : Ազոխի քարանձավ , romanized :  Azoxi k’aranjav ), is a six-cave complex in Azerbaijan , known as a habitation site of prehistoric humans. It is situated near the village of Azykh in the Khojavend District . The cave is an important prehistoric site which has been occupied by different human groups for

378-666: Was an Azerbaijani and Soviet archaeologist. In 1960, Huseynov carried out excavations in the valleys of the Quruchay and Kondalanchay Rivers, in Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan SSR . There, he discovered a fragment of the lower jaw of Homo erectus or Azykhantrop in multi-layer sites of the Paleolithic epoch in Azykh and Tağlar Cave . Mammadali Murad Oglu Huseynov

399-773: Was born on 3 April 1922, in the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, Qazakh District. After receiving his primary education, Huseynov graduated from the Faculty of History of the Azerbaijan State University in 1951. He then worked as a junior research worker at the Museum of History of Azerbaijan. In 1960, he successfully defended his PhD thesis, " Paleolithic Cave Dwellings on Aveydag Mountain" in Tiflis. From 1971 to 1994, he led

420-481: Was found out that they contained 24 species of fauna, some were used as tools. In addition to fauna fossils, 874 stone tools were also discovered in the cave. Among them there were 780 obsidians , 93 flints , and 1 tuff tools. Despite the fact that the obsidian reserve is located in Kalbajar mountains, the research has revealed that these stones were collected by cave dwellers from the bed of Arpachay . The form of

441-462: Was thought to date back to 1.5 million years ago, Huseynov, who discovered it, dated its formation to between 1.7 – 2.1 million years ago. The cultural materials discovered in the caves of Azokh and Taglar (Karabagh), Damjili and Dashsalahli (on the Aveydagh mountain, the region of Kazakh, Zara, Kalbajar), Gazma (Nakhichevan) and Buzeir (Lerik) provide rich and varied evidence about

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