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Time in Yerevan: 11:07,   29 March 2024

Vishap steles (Dragon steles), excavations in Tirinkatar, Genetic connections: Year of Armenian Archaeologists to be fruitful

Vishap steles (Dragon steles), excavations in Tirinkatar, Genetic connections: Year of Armenian 
Archaeologists to be fruitful

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Director of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography Pavel Avetisyan considers the excavations done in 2015 as effective. Summarizing the work, Avetisyan said that each year a report of excavations is submitted to the Ministry of Culture, and if it is accepted, they file an application for future excavations. The Director of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography singled out the important works during an interview with "Armenpress".

Works in the Aknashen monument

In the 2015 excavation works it is very important to mention the Aknashen monument excavations, which must continue. The lower layers of the monument date back to the first half of the 6th millennium B.C.

Two more monuments alike are located in modern Armenia, in the Masis hill site and Aratashen. We haven’t registered an earlier settlement than those. The oldest settlements date back to those times. We have information about the settlements of the first half of the 6th millennium B.C. thanks to them. Any piece of information is of great importance for the recognition of the history and culture of those times.

I think it is very important to continue excavation works in Aknashen. We have begun to excavate such layers that allow us to think that we have a monument dating back to 7th millennium B.C.

Vishap steles (Dragon steles)

The results of the study of the Vishap steles are also important. For several years we are conducting studies of the Vishap steles. By Armenian-German joint efforts, works are carried out in Aragats, Geghama Mountains and other places. A significant part of the steles can be seen in various places. They are in the spotlight of scientists since 1900s.

These are monumental Bronze sculptures, their chronology has always been a problem, and we do not know clearly how to chronicle them. A similar stele was found near the temple of Garni, where the kings of Van have left a cuneiform, which means that they are earlier than the period of the Kingdom of Van. But as to how early, we cannot give an answer. The research is very important. These are a unique phenomenon.

Excavations in Tirinkatar

We conduct excavations in Tirinkatar. Some of the discovered steles refer to the last quarter of the third millennium. Maybe tomorrow it turns out that there are older examples. We have registered more than 20 new steles. The more we search the more the number will increase.

Each year we will have news. Any little thing is a huge step for the field of study.

Collaboration with experts of molecular genetics

We started to actively cooperate with experts of molecular genetics. We make DNA tests, and through them we are trying to understand the problems of heredity. Through the DNA examination of human remains we are trying to figure out what DNA description the people of the Bronze Age had, late Stone Age, the medieval man etc.

Let's see, if there is hereditary connection, i.e. whether or not there is connection between the Armenians living in the Middle Ages, Armenians living in ancient times and today's Armenians. Are they hereditarily connected? What changes occurred, did the population type change or remain the same?

It became obvious that the Armenian genetic evidence discovered in archaeological sites and genetic evidence of modern samples is closest to each other. There is still work to do to understand the genetic heritage. Thanks to DNA tests will solve the problem.








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