On 10-14 September, 2014 Istanbul hosted 20th annual meeting of European Association of Archaeologists (EAA). Istanbul Technical University ’s Department of Social Sciences which accepts 2800 participants made special aura with architectural style and history. The meeting included 6 topics: “Connecting seas-across the borders”, “Managing archaeological heritage: past and present”, “Ancient technologies in social context”, “ Environment and subsistence: the geosphere, ecosphere and human interaction”, “Times of change: collapse and transformative impulses”, “Retrieving and interpreting the archaeological record” and generally 140 subtitles. During that term opening ceremony and reception at Hilton Convention Centre, Bağlama Recital” by Erdem Şimşek (Taşkışla Courtyard), opening of “Gustave Mendel – Pascal Sébah, Documenting the Imperial Museum” Exhibition and reception by the General Directorate of Cultural Assets and Museums at Istanbul Archaeological Museums, annual meeting of European Association of Archaeologists, the opening of “the Forgotten Kingdom: Archaeology and Photography at Ancient Alalakh” Exhibition, annual party and annual dinner were organized.
Chairman of MIRAS Social Organization in Support of Stduying of Cultural Heritage, PhD Fariz Khalilli and the member of MIRAS, Gulshan Huseynova presented a poster entitled Medieval Agsu town Archaeological Tourism Complex as the model of cultural heritage management” during the second session “Managmenet of archaeological heritage: past and present” and “Management of archaeological heritage” sub-session. They at the same time participated in paralel sessions “Archaology and tourism”, “management of archaeoloial tourism”, “Archaeology, Ecology and Planning: relative approchaes in management of landscape and planning” where sub-topics were discussed, and round tables and make exchange of views on study and application of modern trends over the mentioned fields.
During the meeting the Organization representatives presented a poster covered the ruins of the underground city with rich culture found from the archaeological research in Medieval Agsu Town in March 2010, at the request of MIRAS Social Organization in Support of Studying of Cultural Heritage by a joint expedition of Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan (ANAS) and the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, archaeological tourism complex created there, the work implemented there and the function of 4 archaeological excavation sites as open exposition for visitors. In the poster which reveal and inventarization of historical and cultural heritage, compile of scheme, cadastre, enroll and e-database are urgent case in management of cultural heritage, promotion of the area’s historical and cultural potential, in general future development of the complex are covered, there are described that lack of information about historical and cultural values at this area and around create management problems; program documents on cultural heritage help to get systematic information on management object and holding its monitoring; a brief historical background of each object, its importance, value, technical performance, status, environmental and anthropogenic factors impact rate, a particular mode of storage and use, database of users should be worked up; each object is unique, thereby cadastres and database forms have specific features.
In this regard, work has started on an electronic database on description of monuments and exhibits found during archaeological excavations in Medieval Agsu City Archaeological Tourist Complex, technical specifications, importance, initial and current conditions, the level of debris, including an example of folklore associated with it. The findings of archaeological excavations systematized. Main points of management plan includes forms of ownership, identification of excursion routes, increasing the number of recreation and housing for visitors, tour with the horse inside the complex, archaeological expeditions for schoolchildren and volunteers.
It is intended to involve teachers and students of relevant educational institutions wth the purpose of application of novelties over archaeological heritage management in the complex. Corresponding promotion work is done in order to use the complex as polygon for features, documentary films and clips. In the future, it is expected to create conditions the establishment of craft workshops, students and the audience to make things with their hands. Exhibition, fashion show, art festivals, photo exhibitions, competitions, master classes are organized in the complex. Special master classes, the "Great Silk Road", "Caravan Road", "Agsu city is commercial bridge between East and West" cultural heritage tours are considered with the purpose of promotion of local art and artisans.
Cultural, natural, archaeological and rural landscapes in Agsu complex are bordered on local endemcic trees and bushes. All of these make main rings in management of archaeological hertage. Within the meeting the interest in the poster proved the best practice of our country in this field. The practice of British, Denmark, Croatia, Poland, Finland, Turkey, Greek and Swedish representatives in the field of management of archaeological heritage on the done work caused wide discussion of the listeners during the paralell sessions. Variety of the attitude towards archaeological heritage and archaeological tourism in the cited countries were displayed due to the surveys and it was specially interesting in Polish practice.
During the 20th meeting, interesting for study of practice exchange and modern inclinations the participants were very active.