Azerbaijani official: Landmine threat delays survey of 130 cultural heritage sites

Azerbaijan has emphasised the importance of international cooperation in the digital transformation of cultural heritage, as officials outlined ongoing efforts to modernise the protection and documentation of historical sites.

Speaking at the panel session “Cultural Heritage and Modern Technologies: The Application of Digital Solutions” in Baku, Deputy Minister of Culture Saadat Yusifova said cultural heritage protection is a key element not only of cultural policy but also of urban development, describing historical monuments as a strategic national resource, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

Yusifova said that addressing contemporary challenges in heritage preservation has become part of state policy, with digital technologies significantly accelerating the assessment and recording of monuments compared to traditional methods.

She also highlighted ongoing work in the Karabakh and East Zangezur regions, where authorities have been conducting an inventory of historical and cultural sites since 2020, supported by electronic mapping and digital databases.

However, she noted that due to the presence of landmines, the documentation of around 130 monuments in the liberated territories has not yet been completed.

By Sabina Mammadli