Interview with Gahraman Agayev, senior research fellow at the Institute of Ethnography and Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, head of a scientific expedition that carries out archaeological digs in Guba region in northern Azerbaijan.
Q: Can you tell us what works are currently being carried out at the site of a mass grave in Guba?
A: A dam is under construction at the moment to prevent waters of the Gudiyalchay River to leak into the mass grave. The length of the dam is 800 meters and height 5 meters. These works are expected to complete by the end of November or till December 10. In addition, a pit with a depth of 3 meters has been dug so that ground waters do not flow into a mass grave. Works are nearly completed.
Q: And at what stage is the construction of a memorial complex commemorating the genocide victims?
A: Construction of a memorial complex on the site of a mass grave in Guba is commendable. At this point, all forces are focused on construction of this complex. Work is underway to lay its foundation. We can say that the foundation is almost ready. These works have been underway for 4 months.
Q: Is there any threat to a mass grave in Guba?
A: Our main goal is to preserve the integrity of bones. Now there is a serious process of bone destruction. Cracks appear on them. Association of Forensic Pathology has processed over 7,000 bones by special means in order to preserve them. As soon as a memorial complex is built, these bones will be returned to their original location. The remaining bones in the mass grave were to be processed in September. Unfortunately, this work was not been implemented to date.
Q: In what other regions of Azerbaijan it is possible to discover mass graves that would serve as evidence of genocide committed by Armenian nationalists against Azerbaijani population?
A: It is known that Armenian nationalists have committed genocide against Azerbaijani population not only in Guba, but also in Baku, Shamakhi, Neftchala and Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and in many other places. There are mass graves in all these regions.
Q: Are archaeological excavations carried out in these areas across the country to discover graves?
A: Unfortunately, these excavations are not carried out at the moment. I consider it necessary to carry out archaeological excavations to reveal burial sites, evidence that Armenian nationalists committed genocide against Azerbaijani population. All these facts can be used against the Armenian side and bright to the attention of the world community. Of course, it would be nice if the Institute of Ethnography and Archaeology began exploring these graves.
Q: You recently were on a mission to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. What unique findings have you found during archaeological excavations?
A: I note that Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) is rich in historical and architectural monuments, which testify to its ancient history. Archaeological excavations are carried out in many places in NAR. An archaeological monument was found in Shakhtakhti village of Kangarli region a few decades ago. Large-scale archaeological excavations had been conducted since 1979 in this site. These works were suspended in 1988 for a number of reasons. Excavations resumed in 2006 and continue until now. This year excavations revealed a significant number of beads, daggers and dishes in this area. I also want to note that archaeological excavations have also uncovered human remains - skeleton of a man aged 40-45 years (12-10 century BC) and a skeleton of a woman aged 25-35 years (7.9 Age to BC). The findings date back to the late Bronze Age. It is assumed that these people were killed as a result of an earthquake. We have pulled out these remains from under the ruins of collapsed houses.
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