YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. Excavation-clearing works began for the first time in the Persian Upper Mosque, which is located in Shushi, Artsakh.

The restoration project of the mosque was made by the Revival of eastern historic legacy foundation.

Marat Shahramanyan, director of the State Service of Historic Environment Protection SNCO told ARMENPRESS the excavation will last for 20-25 days.

“These studies will enable to make the restoration works of the monument more accurately”, he said.

According to Shahramanyan, the excavation is carried out by Nzdeh Yeranyan’s team.

“There was no need for foreign experts for excavating the monument. This monument was damaged by both the war and weather conditions”, he added.

The Upper Mosque of Shushi was built in 1883 by the project of Iranian architect Karbeli sefi Khan. During Soviet years the mosque operated as a historic-archaeological museum.

Almost 5000 historic and cultural monuments are registered in Artsakh, with preservation zones active for 700.