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THE FINDS OF KEREN AS AN EXCEPTIONAL SYMBIOSIS OF THE CULTURES OF DIFFERENT WORLDS
http://karabakh-open.info/en/societyen/2612-en542
Friday, 07 December 2012 11:10
The NKR region of Qashatagh is rich in various types of archeological
monuments which cover most different periods beginning with the
ancient times up to the medieval period.
Unfortunately, the examination of the region before its liberation
was performed in quite an episodic way and the published materials
did not provide any opportunity either to observe the laws governing
the development of the cultures in the region or to get a full idea
about the monuments located there. Today we have the real opportunity
of that. Together with my interlocutor archeologist Artak Gnuni we
shall try to get informed about the activities and the examinations
performed in the region.
- How long is it since you have been carrying out archeological
examinations in Qashatagh region and what is the general picture of
it today?
- Still in 1996 the RA Ministry of Culture together with the "Cultural
and Historical Heritage" scientific and research centre and the
"Cultural Heritage" non-governmental organization carried out
exploration activities in Qashatagh region. During the past years
nearly the whole region was examined in expeditions during which
dozens of newly discovered monuments covering the period from the
Bronze Age to the Medieval were registered. Explorations were carried
out in Arvakan tomb field /1996/, in the residence of Yeznagomer
/1996-1997/, in Vardut tomb field /1999/ and in Gandza tomb field
/2001/. The archeological finds discovered in the territory of Keren
became known to the public in 2003 when these finds found by Mkrtich
and Artur Tumasyans were delivered to the research museum of Qashatagh
by architect Stepan Nalbandyan. Explorations have been carried out in
the area of Keren village, Qashatagh region, since the same year. As
a result of the archeological explorations it turned out that the
monuments of Keren include a number of tomb fields which are situated
on the both banks of the River Voghji. Besides, both in Keren and in
the territory of the neighbouring village of Grham some settlements
were traced out.
- To be more precise, what activities have been carried out this year?
- In 2012 according to the agreement concluded between the "Cultural
Heritage" non-governmental organization and the Tourism Department
adjunct to the NKR government the expeditions in the archeological
site of Keren were continued. During the explorations 4 tombs were
examined, two of them were ruined and robbed, the other two stood
undamaged. These explorations have greatly expanded our knowledge
about the funeral ceremonies of the ancient Keren dwellers, especially
at the early stage of the tomb field existence as the both explored
undamaged tombs refer to 1st millennium BC. The two tombs have certain
peculiarities which are new to the funeral ceremony of Keren. In
these tombs people made sacrifices to gods. It must be noted that
taking into account the unfavorable condition of the tomb field the
undamaged building of the tomb was a great success.
- What is the degree of damage caused to the monuments and does it
distort the entire cultural image? Was more damage caused to the
monuments during the examinations or have people become conscious of
preserving the tombs?
- The tomb field of Keren was in quite an unfavorable condition when
discovered by the archeologists. Dozens of tombs were ruined and
robbed. But the tombs were destroyed also for natural reasons. During
the years of exploration activities the cases of robbery were
considerably reduced due to the continual attention of archeologists
and the control of the tourism department but it must be noted that
the vast territory of tombs makes it difficult to watch the area.
Recently a new problem has arisen. The tomb field is also destroyed
because of the economic activity such as the construction of a new
road. After all, the natural factor has its destructive effect on the
monuments. In a word, this issue should be comprehensively examined.
- What is the earliest dated monument that has so far been discovered
and on the whole, was the tomb field of Keren new to the Armenian
archeology?
- The finds of Keren tomb field refer to the last quarter of the 2nd
millenium BC. The greater part of them refer to the beginning of the
1st millenium BC. The finds of Keren are an exclusive symbiosis of the
cultures of the Stone Age and the ancient worlds of Urartu and Iran.
Keren has some cultural peculiarities which make it a standard model
in Syunik-Artsakh region.
A. Hairapetyan
http://karabakh-open.info/en/societyen/2612-en542
Friday, 07 December 2012 11:10
The NKR region of Qashatagh is rich in various types of archeological
monuments which cover most different periods beginning with the
ancient times up to the medieval period.
Unfortunately, the examination of the region before its liberation
was performed in quite an episodic way and the published materials
did not provide any opportunity either to observe the laws governing
the development of the cultures in the region or to get a full idea
about the monuments located there. Today we have the real opportunity
of that. Together with my interlocutor archeologist Artak Gnuni we
shall try to get informed about the activities and the examinations
performed in the region.
- How long is it since you have been carrying out archeological
examinations in Qashatagh region and what is the general picture of
it today?
- Still in 1996 the RA Ministry of Culture together with the "Cultural
and Historical Heritage" scientific and research centre and the
"Cultural Heritage" non-governmental organization carried out
exploration activities in Qashatagh region. During the past years
nearly the whole region was examined in expeditions during which
dozens of newly discovered monuments covering the period from the
Bronze Age to the Medieval were registered. Explorations were carried
out in Arvakan tomb field /1996/, in the residence of Yeznagomer
/1996-1997/, in Vardut tomb field /1999/ and in Gandza tomb field
/2001/. The archeological finds discovered in the territory of Keren
became known to the public in 2003 when these finds found by Mkrtich
and Artur Tumasyans were delivered to the research museum of Qashatagh
by architect Stepan Nalbandyan. Explorations have been carried out in
the area of Keren village, Qashatagh region, since the same year. As
a result of the archeological explorations it turned out that the
monuments of Keren include a number of tomb fields which are situated
on the both banks of the River Voghji. Besides, both in Keren and in
the territory of the neighbouring village of Grham some settlements
were traced out.
- To be more precise, what activities have been carried out this year?
- In 2012 according to the agreement concluded between the "Cultural
Heritage" non-governmental organization and the Tourism Department
adjunct to the NKR government the expeditions in the archeological
site of Keren were continued. During the explorations 4 tombs were
examined, two of them were ruined and robbed, the other two stood
undamaged. These explorations have greatly expanded our knowledge
about the funeral ceremonies of the ancient Keren dwellers, especially
at the early stage of the tomb field existence as the both explored
undamaged tombs refer to 1st millennium BC. The two tombs have certain
peculiarities which are new to the funeral ceremony of Keren. In
these tombs people made sacrifices to gods. It must be noted that
taking into account the unfavorable condition of the tomb field the
undamaged building of the tomb was a great success.
- What is the degree of damage caused to the monuments and does it
distort the entire cultural image? Was more damage caused to the
monuments during the examinations or have people become conscious of
preserving the tombs?
- The tomb field of Keren was in quite an unfavorable condition when
discovered by the archeologists. Dozens of tombs were ruined and
robbed. But the tombs were destroyed also for natural reasons. During
the years of exploration activities the cases of robbery were
considerably reduced due to the continual attention of archeologists
and the control of the tourism department but it must be noted that
the vast territory of tombs makes it difficult to watch the area.
Recently a new problem has arisen. The tomb field is also destroyed
because of the economic activity such as the construction of a new
road. After all, the natural factor has its destructive effect on the
monuments. In a word, this issue should be comprehensively examined.
- What is the earliest dated monument that has so far been discovered
and on the whole, was the tomb field of Keren new to the Armenian
archeology?
- The finds of Keren tomb field refer to the last quarter of the 2nd
millenium BC. The greater part of them refer to the beginning of the
1st millenium BC. The finds of Keren are an exclusive symbiosis of the
cultures of the Stone Age and the ancient worlds of Urartu and Iran.
Keren has some cultural peculiarities which make it a standard model
in Syunik-Artsakh region.
A. Hairapetyan