Unique archaeological finding discovered in Nakhchivan

According to the Interfax-Azerbaijan regional bureau, the said information was provided by the Institute of history, archeology and ethnography of the Nakhchivan department of the National Academy of Science.

"The cuneiform, preserved on a fragment of a big clay jack, was found during archaeological digs in the territory of ancient fortress Oghlanqala in the Sharur region of the Nakhchivan AR", reported one of the heads of the expedition, correspondent member of the National Academy of Science Veli Bakhshaliyev.

He said it is the first case of discovery of a cuneiform in the territory of Azerbaijan.

"Similar findings have previously been discovered at the ancient settlement places in South Azerbaijan (present day Iran), Turkey. Such cuneiforms on the dishes usually indicated their capacity. The word "city" was written at the fragment we have found", noted the academician.

Bakhshaliyev said the archaeologists have already studied a four meter layer of the material culture. A universal finding was revealed at a layer, dating to the 8-7 centuries BC.

"We have found a great many of remnants of the samples of clay, emalled ceramic dishes. The oghlanqala fortress, whose walls were constructed in the 1st millennium BC was settled and such dishes were used in period of Akhamenid's ruling  and in the antique period.

Continuation of traditions of the use of such an enamel dishes is a fact, proving their belonging to local tribes, residing there.

According to the scientist, the ruins of ancient palace with columns is discovered in the central part of the fortress.

"The territory of the Oghlangala fortress is about 40 hectares. We have studied only its central part. We intend to continue the digs both inside the fortress and beyond its territory. There are numerous burial memorials, burial mounts, which we will also study", concluded Bakhshaliyev.