Mingechevir's history museum holds finds from the extraordinary archaeological excavations conducted in the area before and during the dam's construction. The region was continuously occupied for over 5,000 years — Iron Age, Caucasian Albanian, early Christian, and medieval Islamic layers all co-exist in the stratigraphy here. Many of the most significant finds went to the National Museum of History in Baku, but the local museum retains substantial collections from the excavations.
The Caucasian Albanian civilisation, which flourished in this region before the adoption of Islam, is particularly well-represented. Their script — only partially deciphered in recent decades — appears on several items in the collection. The museum is worth an hour for anyone interested in the ancient history of the Caucasus.