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Ancient settlements that are found on the Azerbaijani side of the border with Karabakh are destroyed by the lootings of the locals and rains as the Azerbaijani authorities do not allocate funds needed to save the ancient settlements. This is stated in an article of the Azerbaijani newspaper "Zerkalo", in which it says that, meanwhile, the Armenian side bordering with Karabakh carries out archaeological excavations and build museum.

According to the Azerbaijani paper such striking contrast convinces the wingside spectators that Karabakh is an Armenian land historically.

The article says that Hagani Almamedov, the head of the Azerbaijani "Karabakh archaeological expedition" excavations has carried out and has explored two ancient settlements: one is near Horadiz, another - in the controlled part of Aghdam region of Azerbaijan.

"These two settlements are destroyed and looted, as they are not protected by the local authorities. While the Armenians have built a museum near the excavation of a medieval fortress Panah khan – Shahbulag, have conducted excavations of the ancient city and setup a guard," the article reads.

The "Zerkalo" writes that tourists and scientists arrive in Shahbulag fortress (which is situated on Nagorno-Karabakh territory - ed. comm.), from where they are shown the excavations of a town on Azerbaijani territory in 5 km, "which has been robbed by locals, in search of jewelry, and the clay bricks of which have been destroyed by rains." Jhkjh jmjhkjh kuyhkuhh

"In 2012 the archaeologists led by Hagani Almamedov covered the excavations with a film and fixed it by boards. After 3 months, they found neither protective film, nor props for the walls. Chief executive of Aghdam region Nizami Sadigov is proud of the ancient city that has repeatedly been presented on TV, however, the excavations were not protected from rains and robbers in 2012 as well as this year," the article states.

As stated in the article, the discover city is 7,000 years old. "One of the oldest settlements in the Caucasus was found and recorded by professor Ideal Narimanov back in 1965. Since then it is registered in the Ministry of Culture. After the excavation of the medieval Armenian city near the fortress Shahbulag called Tigranakert the interest towards this monument increased," the article says; it also notes that this fortress-city is the copy of the fortress-cities of Mesopotamia of the same period.

The "Zerkalo" reads that the city served as a military garrison and a city-comptroller designed for development of new territory. "That is to say, the development of the Caucasus was the official mission of the city-states in Mesopotamia," reads the article. It is also noted that the city has been the center of expansion of advanced culture with development and colonization of rich ore minerals of the Caucasus on its way, and by the establishment of this fortified area migration of immigrants from Mesopotamia who began to build settlements and workshops undercover of the military garrison, increased. Today the Azerbaijani city has received a working name "Ismailbey." "Judging by the well-preserved buildings Ismailbey has flourished throughout its 7,000-year history, and was not subjected to destruction. City garrison has defended Karabakh over 7000 years, while we cannot protect the center of the world history from rains and treasure hunters," the article in Azerbaijani newspaper reads.

Hagani Almamedov notes that the late Neolithic settlement is enclosed by a rampart, the height of the houses is 3-4 meters. "Every house was a fortress. The purpose of such high tower-houses is obvious. Erection of such a city requires a large team of experienced builders and guards. There are over one hundred nuclei stones weighing from 450 g to 1 kg found there. In one of the jugs there was up to 40 such stones, it is the traditional method of fighting in the Late Neolithic Mesopotamia by using stone-mortars," he stated.

"Zerkalo" writes that the discovered city changes the views on dissemination of the Neolithic revolution methods – not a migration of artisan colonies but a military expansion. According to the writer, an Archeopark is needed to be established after the excavations and the salvation of the "military base for the assimilation of the 7000 years old Caucasus" would serve as a proof that the Azerbaijanis have been the "heirs of an advanced civilization," which passed its achievements in metallurgy and architecture to Europe and Asia.
However, the author admits that "this plan may not be implemented." As a result, the "world sensation", which has been found on the Azerbaijani side is simply being washed away by rains.

"Because of our indifference towards the history, the Armenians build their own theory - "the cities in Karabakh are not Azerbaijani, it is our history, otherwise the Azerbaijanis would not allow the nature and the robbers to destroy traces of Armenian tenure." They show the photos of their museums and the looted, abandoned excavations on our territory - this for the Western historians sounds very convincing," writes the Azerbaijani newspaper.

As stated in the article, nobody in the world will believe that Stepanakert has found money for a Museum and an Archeopark, while Baku has no money to protect the film and the "most valuable monument of the world history."

"Wingside spectators think this way: "If they do not protect the antiquity of Karabakh then the Armenians are right - Azerbaijan has found Armenian monuments and wants to destroy those cities and fortresses." Another very strong argument is that "Azerbaijan recognizes the Armenian origin of the Karabakh cities by its indifference towards the destructions. They excavate with a purpose to destroy the valuable cultural layer and all the exhibits," the article reads.

As stated in the article, the representatives of the Armenian side bring one more argument: "We, Armenians, exhibit at conferences data on Tigranakert, situated is in the heart of Karabakh, while the Azerbaijanis do not prepare any reports and do not conduct expeditions involving foreigners in the zone of Karabakh, they hide the results and conduct excavations only for destroying the monuments with scientific value, which proves that the Armenians have been living on this territory 7,000 years before and have had an outstanding role in conveying the advanced culture of Mesopotamia to the Caucasus, and further to the south of Europe."

"The fortress-cities of the Middle Ages were constructed on the basis of Ismailbey, the city near Shahbulah in particular, and as far as Baku does not protect the city which is the founder of the fortresses in Karabakh, then this is considered as a recognition of the 7000 years old city as a part of Armenian history," the Zerkalo writes.

The article says that at all conferences the Armenian side presents excavations and museum in Tigranakert, gives information about the excavations of the ancient city on the Azerbaijani side destroyed by the rains. "The contrast is striking and works against us," the article reads.

"This applies to all the border areas with Armenia, Iran, Russia, Georgia, all the neighbors, with the same goal, record and exploite within their interests the exposure of our monuments. Indifference of the local authorities towards their protection is such a strong trump card in the hands of our enemies, that the protection of excavations of ancient settlements turns to be a matter of national security," the article reads.