The international scientific seminar titled "Archaeology of Gabala" was held.
The international scientific seminar "Archaeology of Gabala" was held with the joint organization of the SEBA (Seoul-Baku) Azerbaijan-Korean Cultural Exchange Association, the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of ANAS and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Azerbaijan. The seminar, organized in the Gabala Archaeological Center, was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Azerbaijan Kim Chang-gyu, Chairperson of the SEBA (Seoul-Baku) Azerbaijan-Korean Cultural Exchange Association Ruhangiz Heydarova, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nazim Samadov, Director of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of ANAS Maisa Rahimova, academician Teymur Bunyadov, head of the Gabala archaeological expedition, corresponding member of ANAS Ilyas Babayev, director of the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, academician Naila Valikhanli spoke at the opening ceremony of the international scientific seminar. It was reported that over the past 25 years, the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Azerbaijan have made great progress in the history of cooperation, constantly developed relations in the political, economic, cultural and other spheres. The "SEBA (Seoul-Baku) Azerbaijan-Korean Cultural Exchange Association" Public Union, which has been operating for 12 years, plays a major role in expanding these friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Korea. The speakers particularly emphasized the activities of the Azerbaijan-Korean archeological expedition in Gabala as an example of cooperation between the two countries in the scientific sphere. It was noted that the holding of such international scientific seminars in Gabala, which in recent years became the cultural and tourist center of the world, attracts international attention not only to Gabala, but also to Azerbaijan as a whole. It was reported that the activity of the Azerbaijani-Korean archaeological expedition began on the initiative, with the financial and organizational support of the SEBA (Seoul-Baku) Azerbaijan-Korean Cultural Exchange Association. Since that time, in the three historical territories of Gabala, the former capital of Caucasian Albania, and subsequently - a significant city in the history of Azerbaijan and the East (IV BC - XVIII AD), as well as in the suburban areas belonging to the Paleolithic, Eneolithic periods and the Early Bronze Age, archaeological researches have been being conducted annually. It was noted that archaeological excavations in Gabala are carried out by a team consisting of the staff of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of ANAS and specialists from several scientific centers of Korea. The necessary conditions to preserve and conduct laboratory analysis of the most interesting samples of material culture discovered during excavations have been created. These samples are demonstrated in the exhibition hall of the Archeological Center, located in the Chukhur Gabala village. During the international event, in addition to scientific reports, there was a presentation of the collection of books of SEBA Association, including findings and annual reports on the results achieved during archaeological expeditions jointly conducted by archaeologists of Azerbaijan and Korea since 2005 under the guidance of corresponding member of ANAS, Professor Ilyas Babayev on the territory of the ancient Gabala city, which has a 2500-year history and had been the capital of Caucasian Albania for 900 years, and of the film titled "Gabala - the capital of Caucasian Albania", created by Baku Media Center to the order of SEBA Association, was shown. During the event, it was reported that 33 scientific papers of 39 authors were published in the information package of the seminar. Not only Azerbaijani archaeologists, but also professors of the Seoul National University, the National University of Gongju, the Silla Cultural Heritage Research Institute of Korea, the Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov and the Istanbul branch of the German Archaeological Institute were among the authors participating in the event. Lee Joo Young, an employee of the cultural heritage department of the mayoralty of the twinned city of Gabala, Gyeongju was among the guests. At the seminar, well-known archaeologists of Azerbaijan and Korea spoke about the results of research conducted on the territory of the ancient Gabala city. The participants of the international scientific seminar got acquainted with the exhibition, presenting exhibits and photographs reflecting archaeological excavations conducted on the Antik, Salbir and Gala territories of the ancient Gabala city.
