Critical remarks on archaeological research in the 19th and 20th centuries on the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages in the Southern Caucasus

Abstract

This paper examines aspects of early archaeological research in the southern Caucasus, especially Azerbaijan, during the tsarist and Soviet periods. It argues that the imprint left by the early antiquaries was profound and Eurocentric, influencing later investigations. It also argues that these early collections, now mostly held in European museums, should be re-investigated in their own right and in light of recent archaeological discoveries.