Category: 2019

2,750-year-old cemetery discovered in Van

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 1 2019

Society 20:30 01/08/2019 Region

Archeologists have discovered a 2,750-year-old cemetery beneath Cavustepe fortress (Haykaberd in Armenian) in Turkey’s Van province, the excavation lead told Turkish sources. Professor Rafet Cavusoglu added that the discovery spread light on four death rituals practiced during Urartian times, including cremation and a burial of the remains in a coffin, constructing mausoleums and even decorated rooms beneath the earth.

“The discovery reveals the culture of the ancient society that exercised various funeral rituals, living under diverse religious beliefs,” the professor has noted.

To note, Cavustepe is an ancient fortified site in Van Province in Turkey’s Eastern Anatolia region. It is located approximately 25 kilometers southeast of Van in a valley once known as Hayots Dzor (Armenian: “Valley of the Armenians”) in historic Armenia. It was used by the Urartian kings as a fortress during the 8th century BC. In Armenian folklore it is the fortress built by Hayk, the legendary founder of the Armenian nation, close to the site where he slew the invading Babylonian King Bel or possibly Nimrod.

Moscow concerned about recent escalation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 1 2019

Moscow on Thursday voiced concern about the latest flare-ups on the border of Armenian and Azerbaijan and urged the parties involved to refrain from using force and take steps towards stabilising the situation in the region.

“Russia is concerned about the escalation of the situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, that resulted in killing of an Armenian serviceman and reported I juries from both sides,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters at a press briefing on Thursday.

“Further escalation of the situation is unacceptable. We call on the sides to exercise restraint, refrain from the use of force and take steps towards stabilizing the,” Zakharova added.

Ancestral home of renowned Armenian painter Minas to be reconstructed in Jajur

Arsine Chaltikian
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 1 2019
Culture 19:37 01/08/2019 Armenia

The ancestral home of Minas Avetisyan, a renowned Armenian painter of the 20th century will be reconstructed in Jajur village in north of Armenia. The respective agreement has been reached at the meeting of the RA Urban Development Committee Vahagn Vermishyan and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of “Minas Avetisian” Foundation Arman Avetisyan.

It has been noted that the architecture of the historical building will be preserved. The initiative will be carried out as part of ongoing initiatives to develop Jajur community. 

Suspect detained in Yerablur Military Pantheon vandalism

Aram Torosian
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 1 2019

Police have detained the person they believe is responsible for vandalizing gravestones of the heroes at the Yerevan Yerablur Military Pantheon. Since early Thursday numerous war veterans, reporters and lawmakers visited the military cemetery after a Facebook video showed soldiers’ tombstones vandalized by what appeared to be melted candles.

According to the Police statement, the suspect is identified as 51-year-old woman living in Yerevan who was detained in the cemetery of Ashtarak town, observed while exhibiting a strange behavior.

As the detained woman explained to the law enforcement, she had poured candle wax on gravestones on number of cemeteries in capital Yerevan and adjacent settlements what she described as “to remove a curse”.

The details of the incident are being clarified with police investigating the matter.


Mystery of the ‘Armenian Stonehenge’ made up of 223 rocks which may have been built 7,500 years ago could soon be solved, say archaeologists

Ani Tigranian
Daily Mail, UK
Aug 1 2019
  • The true purposes of the standing rocks at Carahunge have long been debated
  • One theory says the site is an ancient astronomical observatory from 5,500 BC
  • However other experts claim the site is a mere settlement and much more recent
  • Two local institutes have agreed to put aside their disputes to solve the puzzle

By Ian Randall For Mailonline

Opposing research institutes have agreed to set aside their disputes over the nature of the so-called ‘Armenian Stonehenge’ to solve its mysteries for once and for all.

Made up of 223 stones, Carahunge has been argued to predate Wiltshire’s Stonehenge by 2,500 years — but its purpose has long been a bone of contention.

Although some archaeologists have argued that the prehistoric site was used as an astronomical observatory, others contend it was just a conventional settlement.

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Opposing research institutes have agreed to set aside their disputes over the nature of the so-called ‘Armenian Stonehenge’, pictured, to solve its mysteries for once and for all

Made up of 223 stones, Carahunge has been argued to predate Wiltshire’s Stonehenge by 2,500 years — but its purpose has long been a bone of contention

Members of the Bnorran Historic-Cultural NGO and the Armenian Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography co-signed an agreement on July 30 to collaborate in plumbing the mysteries of Carahunge, which lies near Sisian, in Armenia’s Syunik Province. 

For the former group of researchers, the archaeological site — which some experts claim is 7,500 years old — represents the earliest-known observatory.

‘We think Carahunge — where more than 200 stones are located, with 80 having holes in them — is an ancient astronomical observatory,’ Bnorran board member Arevik Sargsyan told Armenpress.

This idea is partly based on the work of the physicist Paris Herouni, who had argued that the ancient complex dated back to around 5,500 BC.

Some of the stones, he suggested, had been deliberately positioned in order to align with Deneb, the brightest star in the constellation of Cygnus, along with the positions of the sun and the moon at certain times in the year.

‘According to another opinion, Carahunge isn’t an astronomical observatory,’ Ms Sargsyan said.

For them, she added, ‘it is simply an ancient site, a settlement, which has a status of a mausoleum.’

In this theory, the stones form the structural remains of a city wall, in which the rocks supported piles of rubble and loam that have since been removed from the site.

This is the opinion held by researchers at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, who have long disagreed with the astronomical interpretation of Ms Sargsyan and her associates.

Not a single astronomical tool has been unearthed from the Carahunge site, institute director Pavel Avetisyan and archaeological expedition team leader Ashot Piliposyan reportedly told Armenpress.

Furthermore, they noted, some of the holes in the stones — which are often cited as evidence in support of the site having been an astronomical observatory — are located on the lower parts of the basalt rocks and thus do not even point at the stars.

Although some archaeologists have argued that the prehistoric site was used as an astronomical observatory, others contend it was just a conventional settlement

For members of the Bnorran Historic-Cultural NGO, the archaeological site — which some experts claim is 7,500 years old — represents the earliest-known observatory

Armenian physicist Paris Herouni argued that some of the stones had been deliberately positioned in order to align with Deneb, the brightest star in the constellation of Cygnus

Holes in the stones are often cited as evidence in support of the site having been an astronomical observatory, but some are located on the lower parts of the basalt rocks and thus do not even point at the stars

For the moment, both academic groups have agreed on a temporary suspension of their excavations and research at the Carahunge site.

Investigations will resume once a jointly-held seminar of experts from various disciplines — including archaeologists, astronomers and ethnographers — has been held to determine a shared research plan for the ancient stone feature.

‘It requires studies in all aspects,’ said Dr Piliposyan, who argues that the site is unique across the whole Transcaucasia region

‘We discussed many issues during the signing of the agreement, we even considered that maybe in the future it will be possible to build a museum near the monument to display all materials regarding the ancient site.’

For the moment, both academic groups have agreed on a temporary suspension of their excavations and research at the Carahunge site

Investigations will resume once a jointly-held seminar of experts from various disciplines — including archaeologists, astronomers and ethnographers — has been held to determine a shared research plan for the ancient stone feature

80 of the stones have had holes bored into them, reportedly causing the stones to whistle in the wind. It is from this that the name Carahunge — ‘speaking stones’ — is derived

Members of the Bnorran Historic-Cultural NGO and the Armenian Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography co-signed an agreement on July 30 to collaborate in plumbing the mysteries of Carahunge, which lies near Sisian, in Armenia’s Syunik Province

Also watch a video documentary at class=”gmail-author-section gmail-byline-plain”>



Relatives cleaning vandalized graves of April war heroes

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 1 2019

Relatives of the soldiers fallen during the 2016 April war are trying to clean the vandalized gravestones of the heroes at the Yerevan Yerablur Military Pantheon.

Numerous war veterans, reporters and lawmakers have also visited the military cemetery after a Facebook video showed soldiers’ tombstones vandalized by what appears to be melted candles.

Freedom fighter Samvel Mkrtchyan believes vandalism has been committed by a sect or it is a provocative act.

He called for consistent efforts to track down those responsible, to hold them to account and to prevent such cases of vandalism in the future.

Prosperous Armenian MP Arman Abovyan expressed conviction the vandals will be punished.

He called on the offenders to turn themselves in to police.

Earlier a police source told Panorama.am the Yerevan Police Department is studying the video at the moment. 



Int’l Army Games: Armenia to host Warrior of Peace competitions

Nahapetian Zhanna
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 1 2019
Society 14:21 01/08/2019 Armenia

As part of the International Army Games 2019, the Warrior of Peace competitions will take place in Armenia from 3 to 15 August.

Armed forces from Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Greece, Kazakhstan and Russia will take part in the competitions to be held in capital Yerevan and the towns of Dilijan and Ijevan, the Defense Ministry’s press service reported.

The participants will compete in various events testing their ability of orientation, combat readiness, organization of medical aid, shooting skills, as well as knowledge of military history.

The grand opening of the Warrior of Peace will take place at the Monte Melkonian Military College in Dilijan on 3 August.


Armenia’s National Gallery to host unique exhibition on ancient Roman mosaics

Dabaghian Diana
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 1 2019
Culture 11:20 01/08/2019 Armenia

A unique exhibition dedicated to the ancient Roman mosaics will open at the National Gallery of Armenia on 10 August.

The exhibition titled “Ancient Rome Colorful Visions: Mosaics from Capitoline Museums” is organized by the gallery in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Armenia.

The magnificent collection of mosaics of the Capitoline Museums – the world’s oldest museum – features unique samples found both in private houses, gardens as well as in mausoleums, the gallery said. Those mosaics decorated the homes of various historical figures, including the mansion of Julius Caesar, and represent the richness and mastery of the Roman mosaic art.

The exhibition runs through 29 September.

Resident of Armenia’s Kalavan village to be appointed Pashinyan’s advisor

Karapet Navasardian
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 1 2019
Society 11:53 01/08/2019 Armenia

A resident of Kalavan village in Armenia’s Gegharkunik Province, Robert Ghukasyan will be appointed Advisor to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the PM himself revealed on Facebook.

“Kalavan’s resident Robert Ghukasyan and I agreed that he will end his current activities within one or two months and will be appointed Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia with a mission to share the experience of Kalavan village in other Armenian villages,” Pashinyan said.

The PM, who is currently on vacation, visited the village on Wednesday, presenting the successes achieved through Ghukasyan’s personal efforts.

In a Facebook live video, the villager talked about the development of rural communities, expressing conviction there is no village which lacks resources for development.

In 2017 then Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan was also inspired by Ghukasyan’s rural development program and tasked the government to assist its implementation.

Film: Among the debut works, a film based on the Karabakh conflict… is presented in the Ministry of Culture of Russia

Greg Madatian
Arminfo, Armenia
Aug 1 2019
Tatevik Shahunyan

ArmInfo. To defend their debut  film projects at the Russian Ministry of Culture, Robert Def’s film  “Walter” based on the Karabakh conflict was presented, Rossiyskaya  Gazeta reports.

It is made by producer Katerina Mikhailova, whose studio has just  released a notable debut, “This Is Not Forever,” telling the stories  of children from orphanages. The film “Walter” takes place in the 90s  of the last century. The main character – the picture is named after  him – is working in Moscow, works as a foreman at a construction  site. The tragic news forces her to return to her homeland, in  Nagorno-Karabakh, in order to save or bury her mother. “This is an  ode to filial love,” the authors of the picture told experts.  At the  airport, Walter is met by the son of a deceased friend (whose mother  and grandmother were missing), and together they gradually go through  the path in search of relatives. History develops against the  backdrop of the Karabakh conflict, in military conditions. The  farther, the more Walter has to deal with what is happening in his  homeland … 

Walter is a blue-eyed, fair-haired Armenian. During the Soviet Union,  military units were located in Nagorno-Karabakh, where there were  many Russians, so many fair-haired Karabakh people appeared as a  result of mixing blood. The theme of the film is not simple, and  experts pointed this out. But it is encouraging that the debutants  come out of the usual circle of events and try to make a bright,  unique statement. The main role in the film will be played by the  younger brother of the famous actor, the star of the film “Taxi” Sami  Naseri – Bibi Naseri. He himself is an actor, screenwriter, director  and producer, who has already managed to declare himself in several  works – such as “13 district”, “Aisha”, “Hornet’s Nest”, “Free Fall”  and others.