Azerbaijani scientists made a joint statement on the archeological excavations carried out by Armenians in the occupied Aghdam region, APA reports. The statement signed by director of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) History Institute Yagub Mahmudov and director of ANAS Archeology and Ethnography Institute Maisa Rahimova.

“Armenian “historians” spread groundless reports that the remains of the capital of the so-called “Great Armenia” Tigranakert were found in the occupied Azerbaijani region Aghdam. These false reports are published in different countries, as well as Poland. Polish Voychekh Pastushka wrote article that Armenian archeologists found remains of the city of Tigranakert in the occupied Azerbaijani region Aghdam. The author of the article doubts that Tigranakert is situated in this region and writes that these excavations are not archeological but political. The author does not rule out that the ruins found by “archeologists” belong to “an Armenian city”,” the statement says.

Azerbaijani historians state: “There has never been an Armenian settlement in Karabakh rich in archeological monuments.”

Azerbaijani scientists state that Armenians often try to “shock” the world by such “excavations”.

“The world scientists remember that “Armenian scientists” once stated that “Armenian hieroglyph” and first coins were found in Metsamor. Academician Piotrovski proved in Armenian magazine “Istoriko-filologicheskiy jurnal” that Armenian misappropriate Arabic coins. Polish scientist Voychekh Pastushka’s notes about remains of Armenian city are one of these false reports. We, Azerbaijani historians state: “No Armenian settlement, necropolis or castle has ever been found in Karabakh during over 100 years of archeological excavations. Azerbaijani archeologists found Azikh, Taglar, Zar caves, Chalagantepe, Leylatepe and other monuments, Khankandi, Uchoglan, Goytepe, GArahajili monuments, Uzerliktepe, Khojali, Dovshamli, Akhmakhi, Sirkhavend, Garabulag monuments, as well as Govurgala and other monuments. World scientists, including Armenian scientists accept unambiguously that all these historical monuments belong to ancient residents of Azerbaijan,”
The scientists say that excavation in Karabakh started in the first half of the 19th century.

“Azerbaijani scientists investigated Uzerliktapa settlement dating back to first half of the 2nd millennium B.C in Aghdam. Azerbaijani archeologists also investigated dwelling houses dating back to the 12th-9th centuries B.C. in Shikbabali and Papravand villages of Aghdam. These monuments prove that early city civilization was established in Karabakh, and belongs to historic past of Azerbaijani nation. Moreover, Azerbaijani scientists investigated Guruchay, Leylatapa, Kur-Araz, Uzarlik, Khodjali-Gadabay cultures in Karabakh region, hundreds of historical monuments belonging to ancient and middle centuries have been investigated and publicized. All these monuments belong to Azerbaijan, and none of them concern Armenian history,” he said.

Yagub Mahmudov and Maisa Rahimova stated that there is no information that Nagorno Karabakh regions belong to the state established by Tigran.

“This fact proves that they could not settle here. And the area of Tigranakert has not been described exactly in historical literature. It means that this area does not concern the South Caucasus and present Armenian Republic. Those who do not see these factors disrespect science, they commit scientific crime. Greek geographer Strabon asserted that Tigranakert is situated in the north of the Euphrates river, south-west of Van Lake. There was not any Armenian in the city which has not constructed yet. In other words, Tigranakert is not Armenian city. Some ancient historians said that Tigranakert was situated in Northern Mesopotamia, in the north-west of the Van Lake. It has also been proved in the maps concerning ancient world history,” they said.

These factors show that Armenian history is in serious crisis. Armenians want to prove the existence of the so-called “Great Armenian state” and appropriate other lands. Armenians want to falsify the history again and justify groundless Armenian claims regarding inalienable part of Azerbaijan’s Nagorno Karabakh province. Therefore Voychekh Pastushka’s calling excavation of Armenians in Aghdam “political excavation” is neat scientific value,” the scientists said.