MAMMADALI MURAD HUSEYNOV (1922-1992) Archaeologist, ethnographer

Mammadali Huseynov was born on 2 April 1922. From 1937 to 1941, he studied at Qazakh Pedagogical Vocational School. From 1941 to 1945, he participated in the World War Two. In 1951, he graduated from Baku State University, Faculty of History. He began his scientific career at the Azerbaijani History Museum, where he was a research fellow. From 1952 to 1958, he headed the archaeological fund of the museum. In 1956, he headed Paleolithic archaeological expedition. He discovered and studied Damjili and Dashsalahli Paleolithic camps in Qazakh region. In 1960, he headed Qarabag Paleolithic expedition of the Institute of History, and discovered Azykh and Taghlar cave camps. His studying Azykhantrop, ancient inhabitant of Azykh cave known as a living site of stone-age man, earned him worldwide fame. He was a man behind the discoveries and study of stone-age monuments in Azerbaijan. In 1960, he defended a PhD thesis, and achieved a ScD degree in 1985 and professorship in 1987. Mammadali Huseynov was also a renowned organizer and talented teacher. From 1971 to 1994, he became the first head of the Department of Stone Age Archaeology, Institute of History, Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. From 1976 to 1992, he headed the Department of Archaeology and Ethnography, Baku State University. He published tens of monographs and handbooks, and more than 100 papers. He initiated the establishment of Museum of Archaeology and Etnography at the Faculty of History. The museum is currently named after him.