Restoration and conservation works

In 1964, during excavation works carried out as part of landscaping efforts on the northern side of the Maiden Tower, an arched structure with an interesting architectural design was discovered. This rare architectural monument is one of the most remarkable structures in Icherisheher built for religious purposes. Among the collective burials found in the courtyard of the 15th-century monument, there are also graves belonging to the pre-Islamic period. Considered a sacred site of religious significance, the monument is dated to the ancient period — the 12th century. Its placement within several cultural layers indicates its antiquity and shows that this location served as a sacred place of worship for centuries. At present, an exhibition titled “Examples of Artistic Stone Carving” operates here. The exhibition presents the history of the monument, the early stages of stone-carving art, epigraphy, burial rituals, as well as tombstone inscriptions and symbols.

The Administration of the “Icherisheher” State Historical-Architectural Reserve studies historical and cultural monuments, researches and promotes our cultural heritage, conserves them for future generations, and simultaneously develops the tourism sector. While adhering to protection regulations, the Reserve Administration identifies recreational zones within the territory and, during reconstruction, landscaping, and excavation works, conducts parallel archaeological rescue operations.

To explore the history of ancient Baku, archaeological rescue surveys are carried out on monuments whose purpose has not yet been determined or whose history remains insufficiently researched. In recent years, significant work has been done to enhance the tourism infrastructure of Icherisheher. The ancient city of Baku — the historic place we now call Icherisheher — has transformed into a modern tourism center. Architectural monuments and historical sites studied by the Reserve Administration have been conserved and presented anew for tourism purposes. The historical and architectural monuments uncovered during archaeological excavations are also part of this heritage.