Hamlet Petrosyan: Excavations confirm that Tigranakert was spacious settlement with advanced architectural plan and construction technique

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: Excavations of Tigranakert are being carried out from 2006 in Artsakh. To sum up their results “Armenpress” has interviewed Hamlet Petrosyan, head of the Artsakh archeological expedition group, head of the Chair of Culture of Yerevan State University.

-Summing up the results of the excavations carried out within 5 years, what can we register?

-Our expedition group has specified in 2005 the concrete site of Tigranakert, Artsakh, and in 2006-2008 we have carried out excavations in different parts of the city and in its neighborhood, as a result of which the structures of Mijnaberd, Basilica Church, etc have emerged. The structures found out as a result of excavations conform that Tigranakert was a spacious settlement with advanced architectural plan and construction technique. Tigranakert, founded in the first century B.C., was a white city rich in gardens.

-Mr. Petrosyan, Tigranakert, situated at the foot of a mountain, has quite uncomfortable geographical position. How it happened that till the 14th century it was considered one of the biggest cities of the region, how did it attract people?

- Tigranakert was unequivocally a powerful building, and many found items prove that. It is conditioned by fresh springs that the very site was chosen for construction of the city, which had population of at least several thousands.

-How are this year’s excavations noteworthy?

-As a result of this year’s excavations we have found out a district, the approximate territory of which is 6-7 hectares. This year we have also excavated one of the ancient graveyards of Tigranakert. Those times property was buried with bodies. During excavations we have found not only complete items, but Drams as well. We also managed to clarify the Christian life of Tigranakert. Still in early Middle Age Tigranakert kept its reputation of a big city. We have some sources about that, but these excavations confirmed it.

-You described Tigranakert quite in detail. And why the model of the city has not been designed up to now?

-There was a goal to design a model, but the results of the excavations are not enough as of today. But some attempts have been made. Recently a film has been screened about Tigranakert, where there is such an experience, but they are not very scientific, and we cannot design such a model. Instead, we have organized a number of exhibitions and delivered lectures on the theme of Tigranakert abroad. We have organized 3 exhibitions in Yerevan, 2 in Stepanakert, and have come forth with a number of lectures and reports in the USA and Egypt. We have been mainly invited by Armenian communities of the given countries.

-Mr. Petrosyan, when will it be possible to get the distinct image of the city, and how long will the excavations last?

-It is inadmissible to use larger tempo in excavations of Tigranakert. The archeological material in Tigranakert is very rich, and the expedition group must have time to work out those materials, to restore and understand. Our goal is the research, and from that viewpoint the expedition group works quite speedy. If we continue the excavations of Tigranakert with this tempo, it will take 15-20 years to understand the main image of the city.

-What was the biggest revelation during the excavations, and where do you keep the found items?

-The biggest revelation during the excavations was the basilic church. A special reserve-museum is under construction in Stepanakert. Its inner furnishing works will soon wrap up, and we will manage to keep the found items there in special conditions. Now they are kept in the laboratory of archeology of Yerevan State University. The artifacts, for preservation of which no special conditions are necessary, are exhibited at Tigranakert museum. From 300 to 800 items are found every year as a result of excavations, and currently we have over 3000 exhibits.

-Is it only the NKR government that supports the excavations?

-Yes, and by the way, this year less money has been provided than in the previous years –25 million AMD overall. The government funds concrete excavations and a small sum of money is provided for the needs of the expedition group, no money is extended for equipment of corresponding engineering for implementation of excavations. The majority of the engineering is obtained by private means.