Salt Museum was launched in Nakhchivan

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Published on Thursday, 26 April 2018 10:37

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The Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic signed a Decree on September 12, 2017 “On establishing Salt Museum in Nakhchivan”. Over the past period, measures carried out in direction of execution of the decree, Nakhchivan Salt Museum was established in “Duzdagh” hotel.

On April 25, Nakhchivan Salt Museum was launched.

The Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening.

The chairman of Nakhchivan Branch of ANAS, academician Ismayil Hajiyev delivered a speech at the event and stated that in the years of independence the comprehensive study of Nakhchivan history started, the symposium on “Nakhchivan in international sources” was an important step in this field. The symposiums held on bases of the relevant decrees of the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis, “Prophet Noah, World storm and Nakhchivan”, “Nakhchivan: first settlement and urban site”, “Nakhchivan: initial city and Duzdagh” and other symposiums played an important role to study the history, culture, natural richness of Nakhchivan. As in other regions of the autonomous republic, during the international archaeological expedition in Duzdagh, a great number of material and cultural samples were discovered, and significant scientific results were obtained.

During researches it was found out that, salt was extracted by mining method from the Nakhchivan Duzdagh since the V century B.C, which is the first experience of salt processing in the world. The extract of salt requires the production of certain labor instruments, which led to the development of craftsmanship. One of the great impacts of salt extract is to influence salt trade. As a result of it the initial urban culture was formed in Nakhchivan. Establishment of the Nakhchivan Salt Museum on the Decree of the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic dated September 12, 2017, is an expression of care to the history, culture, national-cultural values of our people.

Ismayil Hajiyev expressed his gratitude to the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis for his care and attention to the study and promotion of Nakhchivan’s history on behalf of intellectuals and scientific community of the autonomous republic.

The Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic appreciated the opening of salt museum as an important event, congratulated the event participants and future visitors of the museum: The history of Nakhchivan is connected with the history of extract of Nakhchivan salt. In order to study Nakhchivan’s history, firstly, we need to learn the history of Nakhchivan salt. Nakhchivan salt, Duzdagh has been great importance in the formation of Nakhchivan as a city. 5-7 thousand years ago, the precious metals and money were not used in circulation. Taking into account that salt was the only means of circulation at that time, Nakhchivan was built in those areas where the salt was extracted. This allows the conclusion that the formation of the city of Nakhchivan began with the first extract of salt 5-7 thousand years ago in Nakhchivan. Historians from different countries also informed about this. The Greek scientist Claudius Ptolemy who lived in the II century, Arabian scientist Al-Sharifi who lived in the XVI century, Russian scientist Konstantin Nikitin who lived in the XIX century and our local historians, who conducted research in the later periods, stated in their works that the formation of the city of Nakhchivan was connected with the Prophet Noah and extract of the salt.

The Chairman of the Supreme Majlis said: Up to now, a number of measures have been carried out related to the extract of Nakhchivan salt and the history of creation of Nakhchivan city. The first event held related to Nakhchivan Duzdagh was the international symposium “Nakhchivan in international sources” held in 1996. At the international symposium "Nakhchivan: initial city and Duzdagh", issues related to Duzdagh culture of Nakhchivan were discussed and new facts were revealed. Over the past period, international conferences on Nakhchivan Duzdagh were held, 1 monograph, 9 books and about 80 scientific articles were published. And also different museum have been established in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. However, the establishment of the Nakhchivan Salt Museum is of particular importance. If we consider that the settlement of first people and the formation of urban culture of Nakhchivan are in the connection of salt extract, then the investigation of the history of Nakhchivan must begin from that period.

The Chairman of the Supreme Majlis said: Our national leader Heydar Aliyev established the Nakhchivan Branch of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences to study the history of Nakhchivan, and set important tasks in this field. Because Nakhchivan's history is the main part of the history of Azerbaijan. The significant measures have been taken to study the history of Nakhchivan and scientific research work has been carried out. Studies on the history of Nakhchivan's salt were also conducted, exhibits were collected. These exhibits will be demonstrated at Nakhchivan Salt Museum as of today.

It has been noted that Nakhchivan salt, which does not lose its importance, is widely used in household, industry, nature, human health, and various handicrafts are made of it. Every year thousands of people are treated at Duzdagh Physiotherapy Center. All this shows that the Nakhchivan salt still has a great importance today. The main task before us is to study the history of Nakhchivan's salt and hand down the next generations. Therefore, the history of Nakhchivan should be studied further, the Nakhchivan Branch of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, relevant state institutions and intellectuals should expand their research in the connection between exploration of salt and establishment of the city of Nakhchivan, collect archive documents, write new books and scientific articles.

The Chairman of the Supreme Majlis expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the establishment of the Nakhchivan Salt Museum and wished the staff success in their work.

Then the museum was viewed. It was informed that the museum consists of an exposition hall and working rooms. The museum has 81 exhibits, including various figures made of salt, books published on Nakhchivan's Duzdagh, newspapers published on Nakhchivan city, Prophet Noah and Nakhchivan, Duzdag culture and salt fields, and collection of documents "Duzdagh". At the exposition, there are the mottos of national leader Heydar Aliyev "Every stone and rock of Nakhchivan that played a special role in the political, economic, cultural and scientific life of Azerbaijan, is a witness of history" and President Ilham Aliyev "The mysterious traces of history preserved in every inch of Duzdagh, one of the most marvelous places of ancient Nakhchivan".

Nakhchivan is rich in believes and traditions related to salt. The museum displays examples of oral folk literature related to salt. Stone tools, stone hammers and choppers, salt sacks, earthenware and clay salt-cellars, stone mortar and pestle and axes, salt crystals, mica and salt rocks reflect the ancient history and cultural potential of Nakhchivan's Duzdagh. These tools, which were used in the Duzdagh mine and are currently being exhibited in the museum, show that crafts traditions in Nakhchivan were formed at ancient times. The Holy "Koran" made from salt, the words "Muhammad and Ali" written on it is the expression of great value of salt.

The valuable exhibits displayed at the museum include salt sacks used for storage and transportation of fine salt. These sacks mainly belong to the beginning of the last century and show the development of weaving in Azerbaijan, especially in the autonomous republic. Stone-salt artifacts are also interesting exhibits of the museum. Nakhchivan is the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2018. In this regard, the salt logotype reflects the unique symbols of Nakhchivan.

Taking into consideration the connection between Duzdagh and Nakhchivan urban culture, the statue of Noah was erected in the museum.

The Chairman of the Supreme Majlis gave relevant instructions to the Nakhchivan Branch of ANAS on conducting archaeological excavations related to Nakhchivan salt, holding international conferences on Duzdagh culture, exhibiting information on the composition of Nakhchivan salt in the museum and selling handcrafts of Nakhchivan masters.

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