At long last, as the fruit of long-term effort, extensive research, and patiently conducted scholarly work, the first part of our book titled “The Ancient Albanian Route” has seen the light of day. Throughout 2024, both field expeditions, the study of rich archival materials, and extensive research conducted in libraries contributed to the creation of this work and formed its scientific foundation.

This book primarily focuses on the historical monuments located in the Shaki District, which bear significant traces of the ancient Azerbaijan Albanian heritage and are therefore of particular importance. At the same time, certain sites situated along the Albanian route within the Oghuz District have also been reviewed. Although the work emphasizes the study of monuments that preserve our Christian heritage and have survived the test of time to the present day, it also includes medieval sites like Galasan-Gorasan and the Mukhas Fortress, which, while not directly linked to Christianity, are historically valuable in their own right.

One of the key directions of the book is to shed light not only on the general history of the Shaki region, but also on the demographic history of its population, particularly by tracking changes over time in the Christian population living in the area. Historical sources, local memory, and modern academic approaches have all played a vital role in examining these issues.

“The Ancient Albanian Route” is a valuable resource not only for historians and specialists, but also for the broader readership interested in the history of Christianity in Azerbaijan. This book is a priceless treasure that brings to light a heritage on the verge of being forgotten, revives it for today’s discourse, and safeguards it for future generations.

You can access the introduction of the book via this link:

The Ancient Albanian Route – PDF