A unique underwater archaeology exhibition titled “Heritage of the Caspian” awaits its visitors

A unique underwater archaeology exhibition titled “Heritage of the Caspian” has opened at the “Surakhani” Ship-Museum of the “Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping” Closed Joint Stock Company (ASCO).

The opening ceremony of the exhibition was attended by representatives and staff of ASCO, the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, as well as members of the public and media representatives.

Organized as part of the “Year of Heydar Aliyev” and the 165th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company, the exhibition features selected artifacts from the collection of the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan. These include historical items and archaeological findings discovered on the seabed of the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

These underwater archaeological artifacts, which form part of the National Museum of History’s rich collection, have never been displayed outside the museum walls before. This marks the first time the artifacts have been exhibited elsewhere.

In addition to ancient items recovered from the seabed of the Caspian, the exhibition also showcases diving equipment and tools used by the country’s distinguished underwater archaeology team, highlighting their work and achievements.

Visitors to the exhibition will gain insight into Azerbaijan’s submerged cities, sunken medieval ships, and the country’s rich cultural heritage and multifaceted trade networks.

Speeches were delivered by ASCO Deputy Chairman Zaur Nagiyev, Director of the Institute of Architecture and Art of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan Ertegin Salamzadeh, Director of the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan Naile Velikhanli, Director of the “Surakhani” Ship-Museum Tural Ibrahimov, Director of the Institute of Archaeology Abbas Seyidov, PhD in History Sabuhi Ahmadov, and member of the archaeological team Aleksandr Iosifovich Volovik. They emphasized that this unique exhibition will be of great interest not only to specialists, as well as faculty and students of history, archaeology, and Oriental studies, but also to anyone interested in the history and culture of Azerbaijan, including international visitors.

As part of the exhibition, the “Guidebook” of the “Surakhani” Ship-Museum was also presented.

It is worth noting that the exhibition was organized within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan and the “Surakhani” Ship-Museum of ASCO.

According to the Memorandum, special conditions have been created aboard the “Surakhani” Ship-Museum for the display of more than 200 artifacts. Exhibition areas have been equipped with ventilation, lighting, and security systems. To convey the historical context and significance of the artifacts to museum visitors, to illustrate the locations where they were discovered, and to highlight underwater archaeological research, the exhibition has also been enhanced with interactive and multimedia equipment and software.

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