Ilkin Rzayev, a second-year undergraduate student majoring in History at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Karabakh University, a laboratory assistant at the Azikh Archaeological Research and Analysis Laboratory, and a member of the Azerbaijan–Germany Azikh International Paleolithic Expedition, has been selected as one of the winners of the grant competition held the Azad Mirzajanzade Development Program.

The proposed project, titled “Paleo-Karabakh,” will be implemented under the mentorship of A. Babazade and J. Marreiros, co-directors of the Azikh International Paleolithic Expedition. The project aims to develop a comprehensive strategy for the documentation and preservation of Paleolithic archaeological sites in the Karabakh region through the application of advanced digital technologies. Within this framework, 3D modeling and QGIS-based spatial analysis will be employed to reconstruct archaeological sites in virtual environments and to enable their systematic mapping.

The project seeks not only to create digital models of existing archaeological sites but also to facilitate the preliminary identification of new potential sites, establish a structured scientific database, and promote the inclusion of Karabakh’s Paleolithic heritage as a reference in international academic platforms.

It should be noted that the Azerbaijan–Germany Azikh International Paleolithic Expedition has been conducting research at Azikh Cave since 2024, based on a memorandum of understanding signed between the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and the LEIZA (Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie). The Azad Mirzajanzade Development Program aims to enhance leadership skills among Azerbaijani youth and to support projects with scientific and social impact.