Supported through cooperation between TÜBİTAK and the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the two-year project will combine literature reviews and field research to compare the earliest traces of Turkic culture in Türkiye and Azerbaijan.

A research project led by Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) and carried out through cooperation between TÜBİTAK and the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences has begun with an introductory workshop held in Samsun.

Titled “Identifying the Earliest Traces of Turkic Culture in Türkiye and Azerbaijan,” the project aims to examine the depth of the historical and cultural ties between the two countries through comparative academic and field research.

Planned to run for approximately two years, the project is led by Prof. Dr. İbrahim Tellioğlu of OMU. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Bahadır and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Okay Pekşen are participating as researchers from OMU.

The research team also includes Prof. Dr. Yasin Topaloğlu of Atatürk University and Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrade Mammadova and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aynur İbrahimova of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

Vice-Rector Kurnaz: “Scientific Research into Our Shared Historical and Cultural Heritage Is Important”

Delivering the opening remarks, OMU Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz emphasized the importance of examining the historical and cultural connections between Türkiye and Azerbaijan through academic research.

“Revealing the historical and cultural ties between Türkiye and Azerbaijan through scientific studies is of great importance,” Prof. Dr. Kurnaz said. “Examining our shared history and cultural heritage with contributions from researchers across different disciplines will make an important contribution to the body of knowledge in this field.”

He added:

“I believe that through field research and academic studies, this project will produce new data concerning the common cultural heritage of Türkiye and Azerbaijan. I would like to thank all of the researchers contributing to the project and wish them success in their work.”

Prof. Dr. Tellioğlu: “We Aim to Fill an Important Gap in the Academic Literature”

Project lead Prof. Dr. İbrahim Tellioğlu said the research was designed to reveal the historical depth of the cultural connections between Türkiye and Azerbaijan.

“With this study, we aim to demonstrate the depth of the historical and cultural ties between Türkiye and Azerbaijan,” Tellioğlu said.

“During our research, which will continue for approximately two years, we will bring together existing studies on the subject and comparatively examine the earliest traces of Turkic culture through field research conducted in both countries.”

He noted that the absence of a comprehensive comparative study focusing specifically on the cultural similarities and connections between Türkiye and Azerbaijan gives the project particular academic significance.

“The fact that no comparative study focusing on the cultural similarities and ties in Türkiye and Azerbaijan has been conducted to date means that our project has the potential to fill an important gap in this field,” he said.

Tellioğlu explained that fieldwork in Türkiye will be conducted in Ordu, Rize, Artvin, Kars, Erzurum, Erzincan, and Ankara, with similar research scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan the following year.

He added that the project is expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of the foundations of cultural unity between Türkiye and Azerbaijan and could serve as a model for future interinstitutional cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States, as well as for similar research initiatives across the Turkic world.

Common Traces of Turkic Culture to Be Compared

During the second part of the workshop, members of the research team outlined how their respective areas of expertise would contribute to the project.

Prof. Dr. Muhammet Bahadır highlighted the decisive role of geographical space in historical processes, emphasizing how geographical characteristics influence the formation and regional distribution of cultural heritage.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Okay Pekşen stated that jointly examining and comparing the earliest traces of Turkic culture found across Türkiye and Azerbaijan would make it possible to investigate the historical foundations of the “One Nation, Two States” concept within a scientific framework.

The project’s international partners, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrade Mammadova and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aynur İbrahimova of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, expressed their satisfaction at participating in the project and emphasized its important role in uncovering the shared historical background of the two countries.

Research to Be Supported by Field Studies

During the workshop’s discussion session, scholars from various universities and institutions shared their views and recommendations regarding the project.

The project will comparatively evaluate data gathered through literature reviews and field research in Türkiye and Azerbaijan, with the aim of identifying the historical and cultural commonalities between the two countries through scientific evidence.

The workshop concluded with assessments that the project could serve as an example for new academic and scientific collaborations across the Turkic world.