Turkic Nations to Create Unified Digital Archaeological Database

Turkic countries are set to create a unified digital space for sharing scientific information and a comprehensive database of archaeological sites. This initiative was announced by the President of the Turkic Academy, Shahin Mustafayev, during the third meeting of the Association of Research Institutes and Centers of Archaeology of the Turkic World (ARICA) in Hungary.

The project envisions a digital portal and an electronic research database that will serve as a permanent platform for interaction among archaeological organizations, scientists, and academic centers. The database will accumulate information on joint expeditions, projects, publications, conferences, grants, educational programs, as well as data on researchers and relevant institutions.

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The platform should become a permanent venue for interaction between archaeological organizations, scientists, and academic centers.

An electronic atlas of archaeological sites is also planned, which will consolidate data including coordinates, chronology, scientific descriptions, photographs, plans, research results, and publications for major sites. Participants also discussed implementing joint archaeological projects and protecting historical heritage.

Furthermore, the proposal includes establishing an international program for studying the heritage of Turkic countries, involving annual identification of priority sites, joint excavations, documentation of findings, and analysis of results. Potential areas of cooperation include sites along the Silk Road, early Turkic era monuments, memorial complexes, ancient irrigation systems, Eurasian nomadic heritage, and medieval production centers. ARICA was founded in 2023 in Samarkand on the initiative of the Turkic Academy.

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The digital database will unite data on major sites, from coordinates and chronology to scientific descriptions, photos, plans, research results, and publications.