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AZG Armenian Daily #113, 21/06/2005
Science
VERY FEW IN ARMENIA FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULE OF SPELEOLOGISTS
According to the golden rule of speleology (caving) not less than 5 people
can enter a cave at a time. In Armenia, only the specialists from the Center
Of Speleology observe this rule. There are more than 40 specialists at the
Center including archeologists, theologians, geographers, geologists and
architects every one of whom studies caves from the positions of his sphere.
During the last 3 years the group has discovered 12 new churches, 2 crypts,
3 settlements and 2 fortresses.
"Those who go into the caves in Armenia do no know what a dangerous thing it
is. No one warns them to enter big caves only in company of specialists. I
know tourism agencies that take people to the caves unaware of the dangers
they hide. Caves, of course, are a mighty factor for spurring tourisms and
those who will invest in this sphere may snatch a large sum but they need to
cooperate with the Center for publishing leaflets. There are many people
today that consider themselves specialists in cave studies, and I understand
this, as Armenians are easy to get to their bearings. While we do
researches, they take practical steps. We have the right to curb them but
fail to do that lacking necessary means", director of the Center of
Speleology Samvel Shahinian says.
His researches of recent years were published in "The Armenian Caves" book.
"Our scientific works on caves never attracted sponsors; it were our friends
who helped us. In "The Armenian Caves" five-volume book I comment on the
materials that we has gathered during last years", Samvel Shahinian said
before the discussion at the Museum-Institute of Architecture.
The first volume of the book includes comments on present-day issues and the
famous caves of Armenia led by the "stone door" cave of Ashtarak. A series
in Shahinian's book tells about Armenian as well as foreign researchers of
caves. Thanks to the friends' support, the second volume of the book about
churches, crypts, places of worship and monasteries will come out in
colorful publication and in two languages.
By Ruzan Poghosian
Science
VERY FEW IN ARMENIA FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULE OF SPELEOLOGISTS
According to the golden rule of speleology (caving) not less than 5 people
can enter a cave at a time. In Armenia, only the specialists from the Center
Of Speleology observe this rule. There are more than 40 specialists at the
Center including archeologists, theologians, geographers, geologists and
architects every one of whom studies caves from the positions of his sphere.
During the last 3 years the group has discovered 12 new churches, 2 crypts,
3 settlements and 2 fortresses.
"Those who go into the caves in Armenia do no know what a dangerous thing it
is. No one warns them to enter big caves only in company of specialists. I
know tourism agencies that take people to the caves unaware of the dangers
they hide. Caves, of course, are a mighty factor for spurring tourisms and
those who will invest in this sphere may snatch a large sum but they need to
cooperate with the Center for publishing leaflets. There are many people
today that consider themselves specialists in cave studies, and I understand
this, as Armenians are easy to get to their bearings. While we do
researches, they take practical steps. We have the right to curb them but
fail to do that lacking necessary means", director of the Center of
Speleology Samvel Shahinian says.
His researches of recent years were published in "The Armenian Caves" book.
"Our scientific works on caves never attracted sponsors; it were our friends
who helped us. In "The Armenian Caves" five-volume book I comment on the
materials that we has gathered during last years", Samvel Shahinian said
before the discussion at the Museum-Institute of Architecture.
The first volume of the book includes comments on present-day issues and the
famous caves of Armenia led by the "stone door" cave of Ashtarak. A series
in Shahinian's book tells about Armenian as well as foreign researchers of
caves. Thanks to the friends' support, the second volume of the book about
churches, crypts, places of worship and monasteries will come out in
colorful publication and in two languages.
By Ruzan Poghosian