Ancient apartment found in Armenian Sotk Village

GAVAR, SEPTEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS: An ancient apartment was found during archeological excavations in Sotk Village in Gegharkunik Region, Armenia. Here people conducted an active life in early, mid and late Bronze, as well as early Iron Ages (from the second half of the 4th millennium to the beginning of the 1st millennium BC). The excavations were carried out by the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia in cooperation with the Universities of Halle and Tubingen (Germany). The expedition was headed by Arsen Bobokhyan.

As Armenpress was reported by the head of the expedition, in general the apartment had about four hectares and the fenced upper territory had one hectare area. It was basically a cave and there were separate structures on the rocks.

In the central part of the apartment a mausoleum was excavated, where supposedly a very prominent or a well-born person was buried. During the excavations the archeologists found earthen things, bronze arms and jewelry, bones of animals, barley and wheat grains, glass and turquoise beads and rings. Discovery of the glass ring was exclusive, as its making dates back to the 16-15th centuries BC, which is unique in the context of the ancient world archeology. The excavated things state that the people, living in Sotk Village, farmed and bred cattle and developed crafts (metal and ceramics development) since ancient times.

The expedition excavated an early Bronze Age mausoleum also in Norabak Village in Gegharkunik Region, which is in several kilometers distance from Sotk. The mausoleum had four rooms, where 5 people were buried. The archeologists found about 40 pieces of bronze and iron things there (mainly jewelry and power symbols). The archeological studies in Sotk and Norabak Villages will be continued in 2013.