Armenian-Italian archaeological mission makes new discoveries at Shamiram site

The 2026 excavation season at the Shamiram archaeological site in Armenia's Aragatsotn Province has concluded with significant new discoveries, shedding further light on one of the country's most complex archaeological landscapes.

The excavations are being carried out by the Armenian-Italian Archaeological Mission as part of a long-standing scientific cooperation between the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies (ISMEO). The project is co-directed by Varduhi Melikyan on the Armenian side and Roberto Dan on the Italian side.

According to the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, this year's field season, conducted from May 26 to June 25, focused on several key areas of the site in an effort to refine the chronology, function and development of Shamiram, a multi-layered settlement distinguished by its extensive fortified rocky plateau, monumental defensive systems, large habitation areas and important burial complexes.

The latest excavations confirmed the site's exceptional continuity of occupation, spanning the Late Bronze Age, Iron Age, Urartian, post-Urartian, Hellenistic, Late Antique, medieval and post-medieval periods.

One of the season's most significant discoveries was the continued excavation of Tomb No. 3, a monumental Late Bronze Age burial featuring concentric stone circles, a central stone burial chamber, rich grave goods, bronze weapons, obsidian and metal arrowheads, and the remains of a ritually sacrificed horse.

According to the institute, the discovery provides important new evidence for the study of local elites, funerary practices and the symbolic role of horses in Late Bronze Age communities in Armenia.

The mission also uncovered important evidence relating to the site's pre-Urartian phases. Behind one of the towers of the Urartian fortress, archaeologists discovered a Middle Iron Age room bearing clear traces of fire and destruction, overlying an earlier burial that predates the construction of the Urartian defensive system.

According to the researchers, this sequence offers a rare opportunity to examine the transformation of a local Iron Age center in central Armenia before and during the expansion of the Kingdom of Urartu.

Research also continued in the fortified sections of the settlement. Excavations at the Wall 2 gate complex suggest that the currently visible L-shaped entrance was most likely reconstructed during the Hellenistic period, replacing an earlier Iron Age entrance.

Meanwhile, excavations and cleaning work at Tower 3 confirmed the monumental character of the Urartian fortifications, revealing a well-preserved megalithic structure measuring approximately 8.5 by 8.5 meters.

The 2026 campaign also produced new evidence on Shamiram's post-Urartian development. Column bases uncovered in Area 7, architectural remains adjoining Urartian towers and well-preserved medieval buildings demonstrate how the ancient fortifications continued to shape the site's spatial organization for centuries.

The Institute said the results of this year's excavations once again confirm Shamiram's importance as one of the key archaeological sites for studying the long-term history of central Armenia, from Late Bronze Age burial traditions and Iron Age communities to Urartian monumental architecture and the site's subsequent reuse and transformation.

The archaeological mission expressed its gratitude to all institutions and partners that supported the 2026 fieldwork.

The project is co-funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, with the support and coordination of the Embassy of Italy in Yerevan. The institute noted that ongoing archaeological, anthropological and other specialized studies of the finds will continue to deepen understanding of Shamiram's history and its significance within Armenia's ancient cultural landscape.