“INTERPRETING THE PAST” IDEOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS ON THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF CAUCASIAN ALBANIA IN SOVIET AZERBAIJAN
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Abstract
During the Soviet era, Marxism and autochthonism exerted a profound influence on the archaeological research conducted in Azerbaijan, shaping its theoretical frameworks, methodologies, and interpretations. By emphasizing the materialistic interpretation of history, Marxist archaeology focused on economic and social structures as the primary drivers of social change. For instance, archaeological studies frequently highlighted the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural communities, aligning with the Marxist stages of historical development, such as primitive communism and feudalism. Soviet archaeologists in the South Caucasus often interpreted archaeological finds through the lens of class struggle, a core tenet of Marxism. Furthermore, archaeological research was frequently driven by state programs aimed at legitimizing Soviet ideology and promoting the concept of a shared socialist heritage within the USSR. As a political and social ideology emphasizing self-determination and local autonomy, autochthonism also influenced archaeological research in the region, particularly during the transition to the post-Soviet period. Competing claims over cultural heritage occasionally hindered collaborative research and led to biased interpretations of archaeological data. While Marxism provided a unified, materialistic framework for understanding the past, it often imposed significant ideological constraints on archaeological interpretations.
How to Cite
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Azerbaijan, Soviet, Marxism, Autochthonism, Archaeology, Albania
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