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Ancient settlement of Shushi: history unearthed
BY STAFF
- POSTED ON MAY 25, 2014
"Discovery of the fortress of Karkar was the highlight of the
excavation," archeologist Hamlet Petrosyan said.
Ancient settlement of Shushi, dating back to the 7th century B.C.
spreads along the walls of the old Shushi fortress. Villagers,
ploughing up the flank of the hill at the fortress's wall were the
ones to stumble upon its remains: bronze age weapons, skeletons,
household items which were used to determine the date.
Ancient settlement of Shushi dating back to the 7th century B.C.
spreads along the walls of the old Shushi fortress. Villagers,
ploughing up the flank of the hill at the fortress's wall were the
ones to stumble upon its remains: bronze age weapons, skeletons,
household items which were used to determine the date.
In June-July 2005, an expedition from the Armenian National Academy of
Science's Institute of Archaeology and Ethnographic worked in Shushi
and surrounding areas. The expedition was led by the historical
sciences doctor, archeologist Hamlet Petrosyan.
The excavations of ancient burial vaults and medieval relics were held
to systematize data on formation of Armenian ethnos in the area and
prove the presence of Armenian cultural strata on the Shushi plateau
before the arrival of Panakh Khan, with the final goal of promotion of
cultural tourism in the region.
As Petrosyan told PanARMENIAN.Net excavations on iron age burial
vaults were conducted, with individual vaults, dated 1st century B.C.
unearthed in the north and north-east of the city wall. Among items
discovered were household articles, bronze ornaments, iron weapons,
ceramics. The excavations also unearthed dozens of skillfully made
animal-shaped vessels reflecting our ancestors' perceptions of faith.
The results of excavations in the old area of the Armenian-Greek
cemetery at the eastern wall of Shushi prove the existence of an
Armenian cemetery in the 12-13th centuries, with its khachkars used
for new burials in the 19th century. The 5 khachkars found here proved
that Shushi plateau was inhabited by Armenians in the period of
prosperity of the Principality of Khachen.
Discovery of the fortress of Karkar was the highlight of the
excavation, with Mongolian-type arrowheads and a piece of Chinese
celadon found on the site, of special interest. The findings prove
that a trade route crossed through the eastern part of Shushi plateau,
with a fortress built by Khachen princes to protect the route. The new
data suggests that Karkar is the very fortress in the gorge of Unot
mentioned by historians. During a liberation movement in late 17th
century, the fortress was reconstructed and renamed into Avani or
Signakh Minor.
A detail study of Panakh Khan-built Shushi fence and specialized
literature revealed that fragments of its ruins match those of a fence
at Mkhitarashen gate. Though full-scale archeological works haven't
been completed in the area, the findings prove that the territory was
inhabited in the 1st century B.C.
About 2000 items found during the excavations were taken to Yerevan to
be studied and restored. Upon completion of works, the items will be
donated to the Shushi museum of regional studies. The excavations
being an important stage in the study, restoration and promotion of
Armenian history and culture, governmental assistance is essential in
the matter.
According to the Shushi museum director Ashot Harutyunyan, there are
about 2000 burial vaults in the surrounding areas, with 90% pillaged
back in pre-Soviet period. In 2005, a map of the burial grounds was
drawn by the Shushi expedition. During month-long excavations, the
expedition discovered 2 burial vaults from Kur-Araks culture dating
back to 10-13th centuries B.C. Obsidian blade, ornaments and other
items were also discovered, with the latters currently showcased at
the Shushi museum.
"In 1974-75, Azeri Academy of Sciences held excavations in a cave near
Shushi, with the items found dating back to the earlier period than
mentioned above. All of those items are now displayed in Baku as
samples of "Albanian culture," Harutyunyan said.
http://www.armenianlife.com/2014/05/25/ancient-settlement-of-shushi-history-unearthed/
BY STAFF
- POSTED ON MAY 25, 2014
"Discovery of the fortress of Karkar was the highlight of the
excavation," archeologist Hamlet Petrosyan said.
Ancient settlement of Shushi, dating back to the 7th century B.C.
spreads along the walls of the old Shushi fortress. Villagers,
ploughing up the flank of the hill at the fortress's wall were the
ones to stumble upon its remains: bronze age weapons, skeletons,
household items which were used to determine the date.
Ancient settlement of Shushi dating back to the 7th century B.C.
spreads along the walls of the old Shushi fortress. Villagers,
ploughing up the flank of the hill at the fortress's wall were the
ones to stumble upon its remains: bronze age weapons, skeletons,
household items which were used to determine the date.
In June-July 2005, an expedition from the Armenian National Academy of
Science's Institute of Archaeology and Ethnographic worked in Shushi
and surrounding areas. The expedition was led by the historical
sciences doctor, archeologist Hamlet Petrosyan.
The excavations of ancient burial vaults and medieval relics were held
to systematize data on formation of Armenian ethnos in the area and
prove the presence of Armenian cultural strata on the Shushi plateau
before the arrival of Panakh Khan, with the final goal of promotion of
cultural tourism in the region.
As Petrosyan told PanARMENIAN.Net excavations on iron age burial
vaults were conducted, with individual vaults, dated 1st century B.C.
unearthed in the north and north-east of the city wall. Among items
discovered were household articles, bronze ornaments, iron weapons,
ceramics. The excavations also unearthed dozens of skillfully made
animal-shaped vessels reflecting our ancestors' perceptions of faith.
The results of excavations in the old area of the Armenian-Greek
cemetery at the eastern wall of Shushi prove the existence of an
Armenian cemetery in the 12-13th centuries, with its khachkars used
for new burials in the 19th century. The 5 khachkars found here proved
that Shushi plateau was inhabited by Armenians in the period of
prosperity of the Principality of Khachen.
Discovery of the fortress of Karkar was the highlight of the
excavation, with Mongolian-type arrowheads and a piece of Chinese
celadon found on the site, of special interest. The findings prove
that a trade route crossed through the eastern part of Shushi plateau,
with a fortress built by Khachen princes to protect the route. The new
data suggests that Karkar is the very fortress in the gorge of Unot
mentioned by historians. During a liberation movement in late 17th
century, the fortress was reconstructed and renamed into Avani or
Signakh Minor.
A detail study of Panakh Khan-built Shushi fence and specialized
literature revealed that fragments of its ruins match those of a fence
at Mkhitarashen gate. Though full-scale archeological works haven't
been completed in the area, the findings prove that the territory was
inhabited in the 1st century B.C.
About 2000 items found during the excavations were taken to Yerevan to
be studied and restored. Upon completion of works, the items will be
donated to the Shushi museum of regional studies. The excavations
being an important stage in the study, restoration and promotion of
Armenian history and culture, governmental assistance is essential in
the matter.
According to the Shushi museum director Ashot Harutyunyan, there are
about 2000 burial vaults in the surrounding areas, with 90% pillaged
back in pre-Soviet period. In 2005, a map of the burial grounds was
drawn by the Shushi expedition. During month-long excavations, the
expedition discovered 2 burial vaults from Kur-Araks culture dating
back to 10-13th centuries B.C. Obsidian blade, ornaments and other
items were also discovered, with the latters currently showcased at
the Shushi museum.
"In 1974-75, Azeri Academy of Sciences held excavations in a cave near
Shushi, with the items found dating back to the earlier period than
mentioned above. All of those items are now displayed in Baku as
samples of "Albanian culture," Harutyunyan said.
http://www.armenianlife.com/2014/05/25/ancient-settlement-of-shushi-history-unearthed/