Astghik Babajanyan | Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of National Academy of Sciences, Armenia (original) (raw)

Papers by Astghik Babajanyan

Systemizing the Past: Papers in Near Eastern and Caucasian Archaeology, 2023

The archaeological site of Getahovit-2 presents a small cave that situated on the one of the left... more The archaeological site of Getahovit-2 presents a small cave that situated on the one of the left terraces of Khachaghbyur River valley, in Tavush region in the north-eastern Armenia. Since 2011 the site has been regularly excavated under the direction of I. Kalantaryan (NAS IAE, RA) as a part of Franco-Armenian “Caucasus” mission directed by C. Chataigner (2010-2015), then B. Perello (2016-2017). In 2018-2020 the excavations have been supported by the Ijevan wine factory. The excavations result the High Medieval, Chalcolithic, and upper Paleolithic cultural strata as well as geological deposits. This article aims to present and discuss the stratigraphy and the archaeological collections of the high medieval period, as well as demonstrate the modes of life and the usage characteristics of the cave within the 11th-13th centuries AD. The distinctive living patterns including various structure types, archaeological assemblages and uncommon phenomenon of the burials typical of the Christian funerary practice within the strata, containing the household activities in the cave shed new light on the social and economic life of the localized settlements as well as the interconnections between towns, rural settlements and its outskirts.

Herald of Social Sciences, 2022

The Iranian architecture and construction art had certain influence on the urban planning of Yere... more The Iranian architecture and construction art had certain influence on the urban planning of Yerevan in the late medieval period when the city was the administrative centre of the Yerevan khanate in the Safavid Empire. The new age of the heyday of the Iranian culture and architecture was marked with the rise of Safavids. The edifices built in the Iranian architectural and stylistic peculiarities constitute the inseparable part of the Yerevan urban landscape. Along with Armenian religeous and cultural, public and residential buildings the Iranian governors built and rebuilt the Yerevan fortress, a number of mosques, squares, inns, bathhouses, and engineering structures. During the rule of khans who were well-disposed towards Armenians, the Armenian religious and cultural centres built and restored. The Iranian governors paid attention on the water supply system and infrastructure as well.
Although the use of Persian handicraft art samples – especially glazed tiles, in the exterior design of the buildings since the XIII-XIV cc. was uncommon for Armenian architecture, the uncovered finds attested their usage in the decoration of facades in the high and late medieval periods. This was as well as connected with the aspiration to follow to the stylistic features of that time.

Herald of Social Sciences, 2022

The medieval castle of Dashtadem is one of the few stand fortresses in the territory of Republic ... more The medieval castle of Dashtadem is one of the few stand fortresses in the territory of Republic of Armenia which was a seat of government of the Zakaryan princely house in the Aragatsotn region during the 13th and early 14th centuries. Located on the medieval caravan trade routes that running from the major city of Dvin to capital city of Ani, the castle was involved in ensuring the safety of those roads and was actively integrated in the trade and cultural interconnections in the region.
The castle was designed as a single complex which consists of the buildings typical of the medieval castles and was enclosed by a defensive wall. The core of the castle is a three-storey citadel protected by the support-towers and surrounded by a church, two newfound monumental edifices - a ceremonial hall and a rectangular building (probably refectory), as well as a water supply system with subterranean cisterns which are located in different parts of the inner courtyard. Тhe historical evidences, archaeological data and architectural analysis clarify the chronology and the construction phases of the castle as well as the architectural characteristics of the buildings.

Vayots Dzor Historical and Cultural Heritage Studies, 2021

This paper presents the results of the excavations at Arpa settlement carried out in the framewor... more This paper presents the results of the excavations at Arpa settlement carried out in the frameworks of the «Vayots Dzor Silk Road Survey» project. The medieval settlement of Arpa (located 0.5 km to the north-east of the contemporary village of Areni) is situated at an important strategic junction, sitting astride the canyon roads leading from the Ararat plain as well as Nakhijevan through the Sharur plain into Vayots Dzor; the settlement was a crossroad of caravan trade routes. Arpa had an important administrative role as well, serving as a seat of government for Tarsayich Orbelyan.
In 2016 the excavations unearthed living contexts with rich archaeological material (ceramic, metal, glass as well as zoological and archaeobotanical remains) which demonstrate different aspects of daily life. The recovered assemblages, with a predominance of ceramic material, date to the end of the 12th to the 15th centuries. The ceramic material is characterized predominantly the local production; however we can distinguish (especially in the glazed pottery) imported wares.
The analysis of the archaeological material demonstrates the particularities of local daily life, complementing and enhancing the historical sources as well as considering Arpa and Vayots Dzor in general in the regional trade and cultural exchanges.

Archaeology of Armenia in Regional context, 2021

This paper presents a summary of the ongoing research of the Armenian-American collaborative ''Va... more This paper presents a summary of the ongoing research of the Armenian-American collaborative ''Vayots Dzor Silk Road Survey'' (VDSRS), and its goals, methods and results from the past five years.The aim of our investigations is to reconstruct the medieval archaeological landscape in Vayots Dzor region in the broader cultural and historical context of the ‘Silk Roads’, over a pivotal period running from the 12th to the 15th centuries. The targeted area of our research is the road networks which extended along the Arpa and Yeghegis Rivers and their tributaries. The physical remains of archaeological sites and architectural buildings make up the medieval archaeological landscape of Vayots Dzor, which was actively integrated into the material and cultural exchanges, entailed within the phenomenon of the Silk Road.
Across the 2015-2019 seasons VDSRS has carried out an integrated study in the broad area from Chiva village to Vardahovit and from Gnishik to the Selim pass, recording and mapping multifarious archaeological sites (settlements, fortresses, caravanserais, bridges, monastic complexes, chapels, khachkars (i.e. cross-stones), cemeteries) located both along the primary routes and within tributary valleys.
The core of our research is based on the combination of three main groups of methods: a) fieldwork, including site-based surveys and excavations generating spatial and material data, b) study of literary and epigraphic sources, c) study of travel notes, archival materials and ethnographic data, as well as related literature.
The VDSRS is also focused on the study of daily life in the local communities which lived along the route, and questions how local people were linked with external worlds in all directions. As we will explore, our research program provides a picture of the Vayots Dzor region as a local world; at the same time, we will explore how due to the political strategies of the Orbelyans the region was involved in the greater Silk Road system. Ultimately, our ongoing work moves between explorations of how medieval inhabitants of Vayots Dzor experienced the world, and reflections on the continuing importance of the medieval landscape of Vayots Dzor in negotiations of Armenian memory, identity, and world politics.

Archaeology of Armenia in Regional Context, 2021

This paper represents the main results of the last excavation campaigns at the fortress of Dashta... more This paper represents the main results of the last excavation campaigns at the fortress of Dashtadem conducted by the archaeological team of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of RA through the contract signed with the Implementing Partner AMAP Human Development NGO and funded by the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation. The excavations aim was to complete the general structure of the inner defensive wall to carry out a reconstruction project.
Between the citadel and at the southern and eastern sections of the inner defensive wall excavations opened, foundations and uncovered a rich collection of archaeological finds from important periods of the castle’s life. The excavations revealed two distinct cultural layers of the castle’s history, from the late 12th-14th and 15th-18th centuries that were uncovered, below layers of inhabitation dating up to the 19th-20th centuries. The excavated area demonstrates a distinct, dense complex of residential and household structures with numerous traces of construction and rebuilding at different periods.

HERALD OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, 2021

In 2010 in the results of the excavations carried out at the site of «Lands of Gharakotuk» in Teg... more In 2010 in the results of the excavations carried out at the site of «Lands of Gharakotuk» in Teghut a cemetery chapel with almost a square floorplan (8.7 x 7.7 m2) was uncovered. The chapel has a rectangular apse highlighted from both inside and outside which is not common in Armenian architecture. The architectural plan of the chapel was distorted in the results of multiple and often incorrect reconstructions. The excavations revealed a variety of tombstones of the 14th-17th centuries, including two grave markers with Georgian inscriptions (deciphering and commentaries by Temo Jojua), two complete and two dozen fragmentary khachkars (two of them dated 1513 and 1604), ceramic and metal artifacts. Based on the analysis of the found materials and the architectural structure the chapel dates to the 16th-17th centuries. According to the environment - sacred trees (Celtis caucasica) growing around the chapel and the cemetery, as well as a collection of specially hidden metal objects (human figurines, animal shoes, lock etc.) which had protective significance from the evil eye or various diseases, the chapel served as well as a place for pilgrimage.

HAIA-3, 2019

This paper discusses preliminary works of Vayots Dzor Silk Road Survey (VDSRS) project revisiting... more This paper discusses preliminary works of Vayots Dzor Silk Road Survey (VDSRS) project revisiting the medieval archaeological landscape in Vayots Dzor region, which was actively integrated into the the material and cultural exchanges, formed by Silk Road phenomenon. During the medieval period (especially in the 13th-14th centuries AD), the routes which run along the Arpa and Yeghegis Rivers, formed part of the wider network of roads, connecting local towns and settlements to the cities such as Dvin, Partav, Tbilisi and Tabriz, and the coasts of the Black and Caspian Seas. The VDSRS is also focused on the study of the everyday life in the local communities which lived along the route and questioned how local people were linked with external world.
The VDSRS is based on targeted survey and archaeological excavations of the medieval sites of the 12th-15th centuries, combining historical archaeological methods, including epigraphy and materials detailed analysis. In 2015-2016 seasons we recorded multifarious sites (settlements, fortresses, caravanserais, bridges, monastic complexes, chapels, khachkars (i.e. cross-stones), cemeteries), making up a database with their precise coordinates and descriptions, which is displayed as a map hosted on WorldMap platform by Harvard University.
The survey data was complemented by the excavations at the medieval settlement of Arpa (located to the 0.5 km to the North-East of the contemporary village of Areni) where living contexts were uncovered, demonstrating different aspects of daily life. Ceramic material collected on survey and through excavations at Arpa closely corresponds to late 12th to the beginning of the 15th centuries. The ceramic material is characterized predominantly the local production; however we can distinguish (especially in the glazed pottery) imported wares. This corroborates the wider arguments that Vayots Dzor region was integrated in the trade-economic and cultural interconnections created by the phenomenon of the Silk Road.
In terms of resolving the problems of understanding Vayots Dzor Silk Road culture this study can represent only the current state of research in this region, but it nevertheless provides detailed data for future studies.

Unpublished Dissertation, 2015

The study of the pottery of the XIV – XVII centuries of Armenia is the area of material culture t... more The study of the pottery of the XIV – XVII centuries of Armenia is the area of material culture that has received the least attention of the medieval period as a whole. In the XIV – XVII c. the economy and cultural life had greatly decayed as a result of disruptive invasions and incessant raids by Mongol’, Mongol-Turkmen’ (Timur’), Turkmen’ (Qarã-koyūnlū and Ãk- koyūnlū confederations), Turkish and Iranian groups. In the Soviet and Post-Soviet historiography the XV – XVI centuries in particular is characterized as a decadent period. Due to these issues, the ceramic is valuable not only in itself but as the most massive and varied type of material culture that has survived up to the present day.
Ceramics are the most massive and multifarious material found during archaeological excavations of medieval sites. Although archaeological ceramics are mostly fragmentary, they provide an opportunity not only to assess the development and the volume of local ceramic production, but they are also the most important and often the only characteristic feature used to date the monument (in the absence of coins and inscriptions). As a subject of investigation the ceramics of the XIV – XVII centuries became topical only recently, when archaeological sites of this period began to be excavated not as the topmost cultural layer of a multi-phase monument but as an archaeologically separate entity. The present dissertation is the first attempt to research and publish the pottery of the medieval Armenia of the XIV – XVII centuries setting this assemblage in its proper place in the development of the ceramic production of medieval Armenia.
In the study of the pottery almost 30 different archaeological sites (including cities such as Dvin, Ani, Yerevan, Lori; burghs such as Garni, Yeghegis, Vagharshapat; rural settlements such as Vostink, Ambroy, Haykadzor, Spitak, Teghut; fortresses such as Anberd, Dashtadem, Tiknuni; monasteries such as Shativanq, Noravanq, Gndevanq, Teghenyats, Ushi, Kobayr; and caravanserais such as Selim, Arayi, Artashat) in the area of RA and Ani (currently in Turkey) which have been investigated the primarily task is the issue of the principles of the classification. Having considered different methods in the system of the elaboration of the principles of classification of medieval pottery, we follow the mixed classification method. The ceramic material due to its technological character is separated into two groups: glazed and unglazed. The following phases of the classification are going in these large groups. The classification of the unglazed pottery is significantly different from the glazed pottery. First of all the unglazed pottery is grouped by its function (habitual, with its subgroups, and construction ceramics), then by morphology and, finally, by decoration. Although the decoration is the last phase of our classification scheme, it is the most important indicator for characterizing and dating the pottery. Medieval unglazed pottery was decorated through various methods: engobing, red-polishing, painting, engraving, carving, stamping, mold pressing (imprinting in ornamental molds), and applique ornaments. The unglazed ceramic primarily is of local production, and imported examples have not been found. It is the inherited continuation of the previous period, though it changes in quality and variety of the methods of ornamentation.
The most practical method of systematization for glazed pottery is through technological classification in chronological periods. The main technological feature in the grouping of the glazed pottery is the combination of the pottery fabric (ordinary red and white) and the type of the glaze (transparent, opaque). These form the types of the glazed ceramic. The medieval glazed pottery of Armenia is divided in 3 types: ordinary glazed ceramic, faience and porcelain. Then the glazed pottery is further divided by the color of the glaze and finally, by methods of decoration. The qualitative features of the glazes dictate different ways of decoration. Decorative techniques used with opaque glaze include overglaze painting, engraving and champlevé decoration; decoration used with transparent alkali glaze includes underglaze painting and engraving.
The study of the XIV – XVII centuries ceramic allows us to partly complete the overall description of the development of ceramic production. In the course of discussion, the general period will be divided into three phases:
• The last quarter of the XIII - middle of the XIV centuries. Some types of ceramic production continue the traditions of the previous period gradually introducing new technical and technological skills and resources. This phenomenon is also observed in other aspects of material culture (architecture, cross-stones, miniatures, metalwork, etc.).
• XV-XVI centuries. A period of interruption in the development of ceramic production.
• XVII centuries onward. The interrupted traditions begin to be restored and a gradual rise is observed (especially in architecture and in the construction ceramics related with this).
The comprehensive study of the pottery allowed us to observe similarities and inter-regional and local differences in the discussed period. The ceramics, especially the glazed pottery, are not only a rich source for the study the specific characteristics of the ceramic craft but are also important in the study of the cultural and trade relations between the countries of the East. Imported samples from Iranian, Central Asian, Chinese, and Osmanian ceramic centers as well as local imitations testify through by their influences to the economic, trade and cultural relations between these countries.

SEDRAK BARKHUDARYAN–120 Collection of Scietific Articles, 2019

The study of the collection of the artistic metalwork of the Armenian Ethnography Museum in Sarda... more The study of the collection of the artistic metalwork of the Armenian Ethnography Museum in Sardarapat is important for revising the late medieval and early modern history and culture of Armenia. Our studies focus on the copper vessels with inscriptions from the collection of “Ethnography and Everyday Life” fund, which were collected through donations and purchases. The assemblage includes a variety of vessels of daily domestic use (cups, plates, trays, cooking pots, caldrons,
buckets etc.) as well as liturgical vessels (cymbals, urns) with more than a hundred inscriptions. Based on the research results, the chronological range of those items (XVII – XX cc.) and their geographical distribution (from Greece to Iran and from Daghestan to Syria) are rather wide. The objective of this paper is the study of the relatively remarkable metalwork items and their inscriptions. Thanks to this research both the issues of precise dating, names of donors and craÄ smen would be
revealed, and a new database would be created for the less studied fi eld of the material culture of that period. Although the majority of the vessels are poorly decorated, there are items with rich ornamentation, consisting of fl oral, zoomorphic elements and Armenian inscriptions. All inscriptions are represented in accordance with the modern standards of epigraphy, with attached drawings and photos, as well as with deciphered texts, including necessary conventional signs and notes.

AIECM3 Proceedings, 2018

Армения играла важную роль в торгово-экономических и культурных отношениях на перекрестке Восток-... more Армения играла важную роль в торгово-экономических и культурных отношениях на перекрестке Восток-
Запад и Север-Юг. Глазурованная керамика, произведенная в армянских керамических центрах (особенно в
Двине и Ани) удовлетворяла не только потребностям внутреннего рынка, а также экспортировалась в со-
седние страны. Развитие армянской глазурованной керамики было тесно связано с развитием производства
керамических центров Ближнего Востока, Центральной Азии, Закавказья и стран бассейнов Средиземного
и Черного морей. Следуя традициям этих керамических центров, новые типы глазурованной керамики были
созданы в ремесленных центрах Армении. В настоящем сообщении показан не только характер глазуро-
ванной керамики Двина и Ани, но выделены некоторые различия с точки зрения сырья, качества, деталей и
даже торгового оборота.

Historical-Cultural Heritage (Collection of Scietific-Informational articles), 2014

The complex of Selim caravanserai built in 1332 by prince Chesar Orbelyan according to the biling... more The complex of Selim caravanserai built in 1332 by prince Chesar Orbelyan according to the bilingual inscription. It consists of the main three-nave hall, the antechamber and the building adjacent to the antechamber.
In 2012 the joint expedition group of the Institute of archaeology and ethnography NAS RA and ,,The Service for the protection Historical Environment and Cultural Museums Reservation’’ Non Commercial State Organization of the RA Ministry of Culture carried out excavations in the territory of the Selim caravanserai. The aim of the excavations was to ascertain the functional role of the building adjecent to the east of antechamber as well as to check the durability of building foundation.
The excavations disproved the identity of the adjacent building as a chapel (which had been known in extant literature), and likewise disproved the presence of the door in the south side as it was marked in past measurements. The entry was found in the west side of the building, which is connected with the antechamber.
The majority of the found artifacts are pottery of the XIII – XIV c. which has parallels in ceramic production of simultaneous monuments of Armenia. A collection of metal artifacts was found, consisting of a large needle, fragments of a door lock, shoes for oxen and stone working tools, as well as a fragment of an obsidian knife blade.
As the results of excavations several versions were raised regarding the functional meaning of the adjacent building (refectory, staff apartments, hall for commercial exchanges, guardhouse, storeroom) which will be supported or contradicted by further excavations. The new excavations revealed various previously unknown facts, enriching the historical-cultural description of the Selim caravanserai.

Aramazd Armenian Journal of Near Eastern Studies , 2018

This paper presents the results of the excavations at Arpa settlement carried out in the framewor... more This paper presents the results of the excavations at Arpa settlement carried out in the frameworks of «Vayots Dzor Silk Road Survey» (VDSRS) project. The medieval settlement of Arpa (located to the 0.5 km to the North-East of the contemporary village of Areni) is situated at an important strategic junction, sitting astride the canyon road from the Sharur plain into Vayots Dzor and was a crossroad of caravan trade routes. Arpa had an important administrative role as well, serving as a seat of government for prince Tarsayich Orbelyan.
This research, focused on Arpa settlement, has generated important results, providing new datasets on both everday life and engagement with largescale phenomena. Arpa provides us with a view into the everyday life of people situated at a key point in both local political and social landscape, and along the route of travel. Our discussion of the results of a first season of excavation demonstrates the potential for continuing research into the medieval past of Vayots Dzor at both the site and landscape scales.

Aramazd Armenian Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 2017

This paper represents the main results of the excavations at the fortress of Dashtadem in 2015. ... more This paper represents the main results of the excavations at the fortress of Dashtadem in 2015. Between the citadel and at the southern-eastern and eastern sections of the inner defensive wall excavations opened, foundations and uncovered a rich collection of archaeological finds from important periods of the castle’s life. The excavations revealed two distinct cultural layers of the castle’s history, from the late 12th-14th and 15th-18th centuries that were uncovered, below layers of inhabitation dating up to the 19th-20th centuries. The excavated area demonstrates a distinct, dense complex of residential and household structures with numerous traces of construction and rebuilding at different periods.

Within this chapter we will lay out a discussion of why landscape-scale archaeological research i... more Within this chapter we will lay out a discussion of why landscape-scale archaeological research is so crucial
to scholarship moving forward, particularly focussing on high and late medieval (12th–15th centuries AD) Silk Road
heritage within the Republic of Armenia. We will provide a brief overview of how the methods and research priorities
of the first seasons of the Vayots Dzor Silk Road Survey (VDSRS) emerged from historical data pertaining to that
landscape, as well as perceived obligations to heritage management concerns at the local and institute level. Ultimately,
this chapter will attempt a preliminary synthesis of the VDSRS data, with the aim in mind of (re)characterising the
Vayots Dzor section of the Silk Road Corridor as an object of study both in terms of its particular history and also with
an awareness of the contemporary relevance of archaeological research in this region.

Keywords: Medieval landscape; Armenia; Silk Road Heritage; Infrastructure

Metsamorian Readings-1, 2017

Archaeological sites of different periods that were leading centers in political, economical, soc... more Archaeological sites of different periods that were leading centers in political, economical, social, cultural and other aspects in their respective periods have recently become an informative source for the study of the archaeology of Medieval Armenia. The activity of these sites stopped due to different political situations, sometimes also geographical changes or because they lost their important function of leading centers. The sites of Metsamor, Arguishtikhinili, Armavir, Artashat and Vagharshapat are such sites in the Ararat Plain where life continued in the High and into the Late medieval periods as well. The archaeological researches in these sites have been limited to only recording the medieval layer.
This paper is the first and preliminary attempt to study the chronologically broader span of the activity of such sites in the medieval period showing their interconnections as a concentrated urban system. This study is important to fill in the hiatus of Armenian historical-historigraphical sources in the Mongol and Ilkhanid periods.
In the Ararat Plain Dvin was the most important political, administrative, economical, cultural and religious center from the 4th century to the third decade of the 13th century. Records of the High and Late medieval layers including various residential and economic complexes and evidence of the urban production at the sites of Metsamor, Arguishtikhinili, Armavir, Artashat and Vagharshapat confirm the trade-economic and cultural connections between these settlements which formed around Dvin, the central city of the region. It is worth mentioning that after the fall of Dvin the urban life continues in these settlements into the Mongol-Ilkhanid periods and later, too.
The study of the material culture of the medieval period in Metsamor is a good example to represent the different aspects of social life of settlements in High Middle Ages and links between the local settlements within a wider region. The medieval settlement in Metsamor which developed at the place of an ancient fortress was a constituent part of the medieval urban system in the Ararat plain. Although the assemblage of the archaeological material is not so large, with its variety it demonstrates the inhabitation of the site and provides new details for medieval chronology. The archaeological evidence from Metsamor reveals that the medieval settlement was connected with Dvin and contemporary settlements of the region through trade and economic ties and shared through culture.

Ejmiadzin journal, 2015

The ceramic is the most massive and multifarious material found during archaeological excavations... more The ceramic is the most massive and multifarious material found during archaeological excavations of the medieval sites of Armenia. Although the ceramics are mostly fragmentary, they give opportunity not only to assess the development and the volumes of the local production: they are also the most important and often the only characteristic feature of dating. The ceramic material due to its technological characteristics is devided into two groups: glazed and unglazed. Тhe unglazed pottery is grouped by its function (applied and constructional), then by morphological and ornamental traits. Ornament is the most important indicator for characterization and dating the pottery. There have been various methods of the decoration of the medieval unglazed pottery: engobing, red-polishing, painting, engraving, carving, stamping, pressing in the mold (imprinting in ornamental molds), overhead ornaments, enchasing with faience pieces, imitation of sculpture. The origins of many methods of decoration represent the ways of ornamentation of the pottery of the 2nd – 1st millennium BC which continuously extend to the late Middle Ages. Some methods appear in certainperiods related to technological innovations, taste, ideological views etc. The widely used and high-quality artistic ceramics were decorated. In the ornamentation of the artistic pottery there are symbolic elements which have lost their meaning being transferred into ordinary ornaments.

Metsamor. The chronicle of fifthy years of excavations (Collection of articles), 2015

The topmost layer (V) of the multi-phase monument of Metsamor dates to the Middle Ages. On the op... more The topmost layer (V) of the multi-phase monument of Metsamor dates to the Middle Ages. On the open square of the summit of the citadel and on the terraces of the north-east, north-west and northern slopes were found residential and economic complexes of the medieval period. Finds from excavations in these areas include clay oven (tonirs), various fragments of pottery, metal and glass items and a dozen coins.
The study of material culture of Metsamor of the medieval period shed new light on the inha¬bitation of the site and provides new details for medieval chronology.
The medieval period in Metsamor is represented by material from the early period (VI – VII c.) to the late period (XVII – XVIII c.), but life flourished particularly in the Developed Period (XI – XIII cc). Archaeological material consists of pottery which is separated into two groups: habitual vessels and architectural details. The study of the pottery reveals that the medieval settlement of Metsamor was connected with contemporary settlements of the region through trade, economic and cultural ties.

VEM Pan-armenian journal, 2014

The complex of Selim caravanserai built in 1332 by prince Chesar Orbelyan according to the biling... more The complex of Selim caravanserai built in 1332 by prince Chesar Orbelyan according to the bilingual inscription. It consists of the main three-nave hall, the antechamber and the building adjacent to the antechamber.
In 2012 the joint expedition group of the Institute of archaeology and ethnography NAS RA and §The Service for the protection Historical Environment and Cultural Museums Reservation¦ Non Commercial State Organization of the RA Ministry of Culture carried out excavations in the territory of the Selim caravanserai. The aim of the excavations was to ascertain the functional role of the building adjecent to the east of antechamber as well as to check the durability of building foundation.
The excavations disproved the identity of the adjacent building as a chapel (which had been known in extant literature), and likewise disproved the presence of the door in the south side as it was marked in past measurements. The entry was found in the west side of the building, which is connected with the antechamber.
The majority of the found artifacts are pottery of the XIII-XIV c. which has parallels in ceramic production of simultaneous monuments of Armenia. A collection of metal artifacts was found, consisting of a large needle, fragments of a door lock, shoes for oxen and stone working tools, as well as a fragment of an obsidian knife blade.
As the results of excavations several versions were raised regarding the functional meaning of the adjacent building (refectory, staff apartments, hall for commercial exchanges, guardhouse) which will be supported or contradicted by further excavations. The new excavations revealed various previously unknown facts, enriching the historical-cultural description of the Selim caravanserai.

Co-authored with Arthur Petrosyan, Manuel Castelluccia, Astghik Babajanyan, Mattia Raccidi, Ricca... more Co-authored with Arthur Petrosyan, Manuel Castelluccia, Astghik Babajanyan, Mattia Raccidi, Riccardo La Farina, Aramazd/AJNES 9/1, 2015, pp. 58-68.

Systemizing the Past: Papers in Near Eastern and Caucasian Archaeology, 2023

Herald of Social Sciences, 2022

Vayots Dzor Historical and Cultural Heritage Studies, 2021

Archaeology of Armenia in Regional context, 2021

Archaeology of Armenia in Regional Context, 2021

HERALD OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, 2021

HAIA-3, 2019

Unpublished Dissertation, 2015

SEDRAK BARKHUDARYAN–120 Collection of Scietific Articles, 2019

AIECM3 Proceedings, 2018

Historical-Cultural Heritage (Collection of Scietific-Informational articles), 2014

Aramazd Armenian Journal of Near Eastern Studies , 2018

This paper presents the results of the excavations at Arpa settlement carried out in the framewor... more This paper presents the results of the excavations at Arpa settlement carried out in the frameworks of «Vayots Dzor Silk Road Survey» (VDSRS) project. The medieval settlement of Arpa (located to the 0.5 km to the North-East of the contemporary village of Areni) is situated at an important strategic junction, sitting astride the canyon road from the Sharur plain into Vayots Dzor and was a crossroad of caravan trade routes. Arpa had an important administrative role as well, serving as a seat of government for prince Tarsayich Orbelyan.
This research, focused on Arpa settlement, has generated important results, providing new datasets on both everday life and engagement with largescale phenomena. Arpa provides us with a view into the everyday life of people situated at a key point in both local political and social landscape, and along the route of travel. Our discussion of the results of a first season of excavation demonstrates the potential for continuing research into the medieval past of Vayots Dzor at both the site and landscape scales.

Aramazd Armenian Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 2017

Keywords: Medieval landscape; Armenia; Silk Road Heritage; Infrastructure

Metsamorian Readings-1, 2017

Ejmiadzin journal, 2015

Metsamor. The chronicle of fifthy years of excavations (Collection of articles), 2015

VEM Pan-armenian journal, 2014

The complex of Selim caravanserai built in 1332 by prince Chesar Orbelyan according to the biling... more The complex of Selim caravanserai built in 1332 by prince Chesar Orbelyan according to the bilingual inscription. It consists of the main three-nave hall, the antechamber and the building adjacent to the antechamber.
In 2012 the joint expedition group of the Institute of archaeology and ethnography NAS RA and §The Service for the protection Historical Environment and Cultural Museums Reservation¦ Non Commercial State Organization of the RA Ministry of Culture carried out excavations in the territory of the Selim caravanserai. The aim of the excavations was to ascertain the functional role of the building adjecent to the east of antechamber as well as to check the durability of building foundation.
The excavations disproved the identity of the adjacent building as a chapel (which had been known in extant literature), and likewise disproved the presence of the door in the south side as it was marked in past measurements. The entry was found in the west side of the building, which is connected with the antechamber.
The majority of the found artifacts are pottery of the XIII-XIV c. which has parallels in ceramic production of simultaneous monuments of Armenia. A collection of metal artifacts was found, consisting of a large needle, fragments of a door lock, shoes for oxen and stone working tools, as well as a fragment of an obsidian knife blade.
As the results of excavations several versions were raised regarding the functional meaning of the adjacent building (refectory, staff apartments, hall for commercial exchanges, guardhouse) which will be supported or contradicted by further excavations. The new excavations revealed various previously unknown facts, enriching the historical-cultural description of the Selim caravanserai.