Today, 15 August, the Third Meeting of the Association of Research Institutes and Centers for Archaeology of the Turkic World (ARICA) was held in Bugac, Hungary. The meeting focused on moving archaeological cooperation into a practical phase and developing joint international projects in archaeology and the preservation of historical heritage.
The meeting brought together President of the Turkic Academy Prof. Dr. Shahin Mustafayev, President of the Hungarian Turan Foundation András Bíró, heads and representatives of archaeological organizations from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan and Mongolia, representatives of the Turkish Historical Society, as well as senior officials and specialists from the Hungarian National Museum.
Opening the meeting, Prof. Dr. Shahin Mustafayev noted that, in the three years since ARICA was established, the Association had progressed from laying the foundations for cooperation to developing into a functioning international scientific network.
- ARICA has now moved beyond its formative stage and is becoming an active international scientific network focused on implementing joint projects, - President of the Turkic Academy said.
ARICA was established on the initiative of the Turkic Academy in Samarkand in 2023. Its First Official Meeting was held in Shusha in 2024, followed by the Second Meeting in Ankara and Gaziantep in 2025. During this period, the participants identified key areas of cooperation and launched joint scientific and publishing initiatives.
A central focus of the Third Meeting was the discussion of practical mechanisms for joint work. Participants considered the establishment of the ARICA International Program for the Joint Study of the Archaeological Heritage of the Turkic Countries which would enable experts from participating countries to identify priority archaeological sites and research themes annually and conduct joint field studies, excavations, documentation and scientific analysis.
Potential areas of cooperation include cities of the Great Silk Road, Early Turkic monuments and memorial complexes, ancient irrigation systems, the archaeological heritage of nomadic cultures of Eurasia, and medieval production centers.
Another key initiative is the creation of an Electronic Atlas of Archaeological Sites of the Turkic Countries. The proposed unified digital database would bring together information on major archaeological sites, including their geographical location, chronology, scholarly descriptions, photographic materials, plans, research findings and key academic publications.
Participants also discussed the establishment of the ARICA Digital Information Portal and Electronic Research Database, which would provide a permanent platform for the exchange of scientific information among archaeological organizations, researchers and academic centers across the Turkic World. The platform could include information on joint expeditions and research projects, publications, conferences, grants, educational programs, researchers and relevant institutions.
In addition, President of the Turkic Academy Mustafayev proposed holding an annual ARICA meeting on the results of archaeological research, providing an opportunity to present the findings of excavations and scientific studies, discuss new discoveries and jointly determine cooperation priorities for the following year.
- These four initiatives can transform ARICA into an effective and sustainable platform for cooperation on the common archaeological heritage of the Turkic World,” the President of the Turkic Academy stated.
Particular attention was also given to strengthening cooperation with Hungary. It was noted that Hungarian scholars, institutions, museums and research centers have for many years made a significant contribution to the study of the Huns, the Eurasian steppes and the early history of the Turkic peoples. -As the initiator of the establishment of ARICA, the Turkic Academy will continue to support the integration and development of archaeological scholarship across the Turkic World,” the President of the Academy said.
The meeting also featured the presentation of the publication “Archaeologists of the Turkic World: Short Biographies,” prepared under the coordination of the Turkic Academy. The book brings together information on prominent archaeologists from across the Turkic World, their scholarly research and contributions to the development of archaeology, creating a common record of the field’s scientific heritage.
At the conclusion of the meeting, participants adopted the Final Resolution of the Third Meeting of ARICA, setting out the Association’s key priorities and joint action plan for the coming years. The document marks ARICA’s transition toward the practical implementation of joint archaeological research, the creation of a unified digital information space and the systematic exchange of scientific knowledge among research institutions across the Turkic World.
