Ganja Region Kurgan Archaeological Project 2018-2024

Archaeological research at the Tava Tepe Late Bronze-Early Iron Age settlement, located in the Agstafa region of Azerbaijan's western area, is being conducted by the Azerbaijan-Italy International Expedition, covering the period from 2021 to 2024. During archaeological investigations at the site characteristic of the Khojaly-Gadabay culture, numerous remains of structures and material culture artifacts reflecting the economic and domestic life of the people who inhabited the area have been uncovered. The cultural stratigraphy of the archaeological site encompasses all periods of the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age, characterized by a two-phase settlement from the 15th to the 7th centuries BCE. During the conducted archaeological research, it was determined that the settlement area was divided into several sections based on its function, including economic, residential, and religious ritual zones. The circular-shaped, unique religious sanctuary found at the highest point of the archaeological site is attributed to the earliest phase of settlement and holds exceptional significance for the study of the religious worldview of the Khojaly-Gadabay culture carriers. The material culture artifacts uncovered from the religious ritual area indicate that the site was used not only as a place for religious ceremonies but also as an altar and a place for ritual meals. The geographical location of the archaeological site suggests that this sanctuary could be characterized as one of the religious centers for the primitive people settled in the South Caucasus during the mentioned period.