The Elements of Collective Memory in the Study of Two Graves in Babaratma Village Cemetery, Shaki Region, Azerbaijan

Khalilli, F., Aliyeva, H., Khalilli Sh., Jabbarova, G. (2025). The Elements of Collective Memory in the Study of Two Graves in Babaratma Village Cemetery, Shaki Region, Azerbaijan (pp. 177–190). In R. Zemon (Ed.), Collective memory, memory politics and contemporary identities in the context of local, regional and global conflicts and alliances: In honor of Prof. Gafar Jabijev, Ph.D. (13th Scientific International Conference “Ohrid–Vodici 2025”, Ohrid, January 17–19, 2025). Center for Advanced Researches. ABSTRACTCemeteries are places of tangible cultural heritage where collective memory is preserved as a historical-cultural monument. Babaratma cemetery, its grave monuments and religious rituals are important historical sources for studying local Muslim traditions. In the Babaratma cemetery, a 16th-century tomb, a 17th-century mosque, a spring between them, and 16th-21st-century graves indicate that a Sufi khanqah was located here on the caravan road to Shaki. It is interesting that many pilgrims visit the Babaratma cemetery not only from Azerbaijan, but also from Russia and Georgia. These pilgrims were representatives of different religions (Islam, Christianity), different sects (Sunni, Shia), different ethnic groups (Turkic, Avar, Ingiloy, Lazgi, Sakhur, Rutul, and others) and were active even in the Soviet period.In June 2024, Behbud Eminli, one of the pilgrims who repeatedly visited the Babaratma cemetery, a resident of Sumgayit city, appealed to the Shaki district executive authority and asked for the study of some graves and their beautification. The application of Behbud Eminli was discussed in the Gabala Regional Office of the State Service for the Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and first of all, it was advised to conduct epigraphic research in the cemetery.In September 2024, Habiba Aliyeva, researcher of the Archaeology scientific foundation department of the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, doctor of philosophy in history, associate professor, was sent to Shaki region to conduct research in the Babaratma cemetery. In order to determine the epigraphic monuments to be researched and eliminate the interventions made to them, with the participation of the head of the Gabala Regional Office, Dr. Fariz Khalili, an on-site inspection of the Babaratma mosque, tomb and cemetery was conducted in the village of Babaratma, Shaki region. It is interesting that, against the background of superstitious beliefs, outsiders interfered with two grave monuments in the Babaratma cemetery and turned them into a place of illegal profit. The expedition cleaned the two disturbed graves, took the stamps of the epigraphic monuments, took their photos and prepared a data bank. In January 2025, both graves were assembled and beautified in their place.The report will elaborate the determining the place of the Babaratma cemetery in the cross-border, regional collective memory and examining the background elements of the two graves.