ARPA INSTITUTE
18106 Miranda St., Tarzana CA 91356 . PHONE/FAX (818) 881-0010
24 B, Baghramian, Mech. Inst. Bldg. of ASc,Yerevan, Armenia
Jointly with
The Armenian Educational Foundation Chair of Modern Armenian History, UCLA
Present : Lecture/Seminar
"Tigranakert in Artsakh: Discovery and Initial
Excavations of a Lost Armenian City"
by: Dr. Hamlet Petrosyan
Thursday, December 21, 2006 @ 7:30PM
Merdinian Auditorium
13330 Riverside Dr. Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Directions: On the 101 FY Exit on Woodman, Go North and Turn Right on
Riverside Dr.
Abstract: The archaeological excavations of Tigranakert by a team of
archeologists from the Institute of Archaeology & Ethnography, National
Academy of Sciences, Republic of Armenia, pinpointed in 2005 what it
believes to be the exact location of Tigranakert in Artsakh and carried out
short-term excavations in the city and surrounding areas in 2006. The
research team studied the historical and archaeological environment of the
lower hills of the Khachenaget River and came to the conclusion that the
ruins of Tigranakert are comprised of fortified sections, vast urban
quarters, and two cemeteries found in the surroundings of the Shahbulagh
springs. The discovery of Tigranakert has utmost significance, a city that
unveils the ethnic-cultural homogeneity of Artsakh and Armenia from the
early centuries B.C. to the 13th-14th centuries A.D. The territory,
according to 7th century historian Sebeos, was a part of Utik and
Tigranakert Avan, which belonged to Artsakh. In order to pinpoint
Tigranakert in Artsakh clearly and accurately, the investigative team
selected the Khachenaget valley as a conditional center and studied the
monuments of an area within a radius of about 10 kilometers. Among the
monuments in that area are two spacious ruins placed at the right and left
banks of the Khachenaget River, almost at equal distances, one from the
district of Sofulu and the other from the springs of Shahbulagh. This
lecture will present the most recent findings.
Dr. Hamlet Petrosyan, is a senior researcher and professor at the Institute
of Archaeology, National Academy of Armenia. He is the chief of the
Tigranakert excavations in Artsakh and has extensive background in
excavations and archeological research and analytical studies on ancient
cites in the Middle East.
For more Information Please call Dr. Hagop Panossian at (818)586-9660 or
e-mail Prof. Richard Hovannisian at
<mailto:[email protected]>hovannis@ history.ucla.edu