Azykh Cave

The oldest cave in Azerbaijan inhabited by people is Azykh Cave. This cave is one of the most ancient human habitats in the world. Azykh Cave is located 14 km north north-west of the city Fuzuli, near the village of Azykh, on the left bank of the Guruchay River, at an altitude of 900 meters from sea level. The area of the Azykh Cave is 800sq.km.

In 1960, an expedition led by Azerbaijani archaelogist Mammadali Huseynov discovered Azykh Cave and started to unveil it. It became clear that it was the habitat of the oldest human beings of the world ( they were called Azykhantrops).

In 1968, as a result of long-lasting excavations in Azykh Cave by M.Huseynov, the low jaw bone of a human related to the Neanderthal type was found. The examination carried out on the find proved that it had at least 350-400 thousand year history.

During the excavations, a cultural layer 10-14 meters thick was discovered. More than 

3,000 stone tools and more than 30,000 fossilized animal bones were found there.

Azykh Cave is the multi-layered monument dating back to the anthropogenous era. The Azykh discoveries once again prove that people began to live on the territory of Azerbaijan 1.5 million years ago. Azykh Cave draws attention by the fact that it is the biggest of the caves so far found in the Caucasus.

Azykh Cave is a six-cave complex known as a habitation site of prehistoric humans.

Soldiers of the Azerbaijani Army took pictures from the Azykh Cave.