Veli B. Bakhshaliyev^a,#

^a Nakhchivan Branch of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan

^#E-mail: velibahshaliyev@mail.ru

Keywords: South Caucasus, Nakhchivan, Kultepe I, Neolithic, ceramics.

Different opinions were expressed about the formation of the Neolithic in the South Caucasus: some researchers believe that the Neolithic of the South Caucasus originated on local soil, others assume that it was brought there from outside. To clarify the issue the French-Azerbaijani expedition resumed archaeological excavations at the settlement of Kultepe I in 2012–2018. New data have been partially presented in some articles, but have not been published in full. Comparison of archaeological materials obtained during the Soviet period (excavations by O.A. Abibullayev) with the results of the last decade makes it possible to conclude that the Kultepe culture was formed on the local soil in close contact with neighbouring Middle Eastern regions.

DOI: 10.31857/S0869606322010032