Turkic-Islamic Heritage of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur Discussed at International Symposium
An international symposium entitled “Turkic-Islamic Monuments of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur” was held at Khazar University on October 21, 2026, organized by the Department of History and Archaeology and led by the department’s head, Dr. Telman Nusratoglu. Scholars, researchers, and official guests discussed issues related to the study, preservation, and promotion of the region’s historical and cultural heritage.
The plenary session featured addresses by project director Dr. Telman Nusratoglu; Prof. Acad. Hamlet Isakhanli, founder of Khazar University and Chairman of its Board of Directors and Trustees; Prof. Dr. Birol Akgün, Ambassador of Türkiye to Azerbaijan; Member of Parliament Tural Ganjaliyev; Dr. Fazil Mustafa, Chair of a committee of the Milli Majlis; and Dr. Parviz Gasimov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS.
The speakers emphasized the importance of scientifically grounded research into the cultural heritage of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, as well as the documentation and preservation of historical monuments. They also highlighted the significance of cooperation between Azerbaijani and Turkish scholars in researching this heritage.
The presentations and discussions addressed a range of topics, including the study of the historical presence of Turkic peoples in the region based on historical sources, Shusha’s Turkic-Islamic urban identity, events that took place in Zangezur in 1918–1920 and the damage inflicted on cultural heritage, architecture from the period of the Karabakh Khanate, mosques, waqf documents, epigraphic heritage, and folklore associated with historical monuments.
The presentations also examined depictions of monuments in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur in historical sources, their restoration and the preservation of cultural memory, the academic study and public presentation of monuments, and the significance of toponyms in contemporary archaeological research. Researchers stressed the importance of taking historical authenticity, inscriptions, and local memory into account during the preservation and restoration of monuments.
The international symposium aimed to facilitate the study of the Turkic-Islamic heritage of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur from various academic perspectives, advance research into historical and cultural monuments, and expand scholarly exchange among specialists in the field.
