YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The Aghdzk excavation site, where relics of Armenian Arshakuni Kings were discovered – will become a tourist destination.

According to Culture Minister Armen Amiryan, financing is required for relevant infrastructures.

“Facilities for preserving the monument, further research and exhibition will be created here”, the minister said.

Lawmaker Aragats Akhoyan said the Armenian people must preserve and value the monument.

“The remains of our Kings are in his excavation site. We must raise awareness of this site to the public”, he said.

The largest relic-chest of three excavated chests by the expedition in the Aghdzk village excavation site was opened, which contained remains and relics of Armenian Kings.

According to Culture minister Armen Amiryan, excavation financing is carried out since 2014.

“17 million AMD was provided to excavation of the monument in 2016. Results showed that we have to continue excavations”, the minister said.

Archaeologist, head of the Aghdzk expedition Hakob Simonyan said excavations this year began in May and are still underway.

“The expedition of the historic-cultural heritage scientific-research center is working here. The Hungarians and Iranians are also interested in this monument and soon they will also be included in the expedition”, he said.

According to Simonyan, a museum dedicated to the Armenian statehood is planned to be opened in the excavation site soon.

Aghdzk is a village on the slopes of Mount Aragats in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. It is home to the Arshakuni Mausoleum, a large grave monument complex and basilica of the 4th to 5th centuries.

King Shapur II of Persia exhumed the bones of the Armenian kings and attempted to take them to Persia symbolically taking Armenia's power. When Sparapet Vassak Mamikonian defeated the Persians and reclaimed the bones of the Arshakuni monarchs, he buried them at Aghdzk. Remains of the monuments and the basilica may still to be seen.

Photos by Mkhitar Khachatryan