Tigran The Great’s Citadel Found In Artsakh

[Yervant1]

Tigranakert fortress may open doors soon - archaeologist

15:18 * 08.09.14


The head of the archaeological team conducting excavations in
Tigranakert (the ancient Armenian capital on the territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh) says they expect to open the historical city's
fortress in the near future.

"We are hopeful to open the fortress' main entrance, which promises
not only a magnificent architectural sample but also, I think, records
about the city. In the central district's Christian Square. we have
unveiled the second church where we had unearthed a crypt under the
Koran," Hamlet Petrosyan told reporters on Friday, commenting on the
results of the excavation.

He said they invited three foreign experts to collaborate with the
team last year in an effort to raise worldwide awareness of the
historical Armenian site. "Tigranakert needs to gain recognition
today, so by inviting foreign specialists, we will raise awareness of
the city in those countries as well. Apart from their academic
significance, archaeological excavations are also important in terms
of raising the society's attention. All Armenians have been involved
in the process. The excavations in Tigranakert are very important, as
we need attention not only by the scientific circles but also ordinary
people," he explained.

Petrosyan said 30,000-40,000 people annually visit Tigranakert to see
the ancient site.

"And in spite of all that, there is absolutely no attention by either
the authorities or the political parties. The same indifference we see
on the part of the National Academy of Sciences. Yes, they do not
hamper our activities or reject us, but there is no enthusiasm about
that invention which bears witness to the Armenians' presence in those
territories in the early Christian period," the archeologist noted.


http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/09/08/tigranakert/

[onjig]

http://asbarez.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Tigranakert_of_Artsakh_01.jpg

The ruins of the Tigranakert archaeological site in Artsakh (Source: Raffi Youredjian)

STEPANAKERT (Panorama)—Excavations show that Tigranakert in Artsakh, founded in the 1st century BCE, existed until the 14th century CE. In order to preserve the rich heritage of the Armenian people, a cultural and historical natural reserve has been created in the territories in and around Tigranakert, which has opened its doors to visitors, says a video produced by the State System of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s Department of Tourism and Historical Environment Protection.

The video shows the natural peculiarities of Tigranakert and its surroundings. The makers of the video pay special attention to the Khachen River, whose waters have irrigated the lands on the nearby plains for centuries. The orchards in the territory of the natural reserve are especially singled out and described as, “yielding in nothing to Eden.”

According to the video, the area was chosen to construct the city due to the abundance of springs, called “the Royal springs,” which solved the problem of the city’s drinking water supply.

During excavations lead by doctor of historical sciences Hamlet Petrosyan, archaeologists were able to uncover almost 450-meter-long fortress walls from under the ground, and to show the world one of the most beautiful cities of its time, built with Hellenic technologies, including a laying called “tsitsernakapoch.”

The video also shows a museum where artifacts found during the excavation are kept—a testament to the ancient history of Tigranakert in Artsakh, and the abundance of material culture dating back from prehistoric times till the 17th century CE.

The excavations at Tigranakert were initiated and financed by “Yerkir” UNGO in 2005. In 2007, the government of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic partly financed the project and in 2008, all the expenses were covered by the government of Artsakh.

 

[Yervant1]

TIGRANAKERT ONE OF MOST VISITED TOURIST SITES IN ARTSAKH

August 14, 2015 - 16:23 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - According to the data provided by Tigranakert
tourist informational center, about 7000 people visited the site in
January-July 2015, which is 10% more against the same period of 2014.

Tigranakert is mainly visited by Armenian and Artsakh citizens,
but the number of foreign tourists keeps growing as well due to the
ongoing excavations and development of local infrastructure.

Currently, Tigranakert is considered to be one of the most visited
destinations in NKR.

http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/195979/

[Yervant1]

Finds discovered by Karabakh servicemen to be exhibited at Tigranakert Archaeological Museum

http://www.groong.com/news/attachments/msg574038/pngjehd14DpkG.png

SOCIETY 19:42 16/05/2016 NKR

The finds discovered by NKR Defense Army soldiers from antique necropolis in the eastern part of Artsakh will be exhibited at the Archaeological museum of Tigranakert on May 18 in the scope of International Museum Day, the official website of the "Service for the Protection of Historical Environment and Cultural Museum Reservations" NCSO of the RA Ministry of Culture reports.

To remind, during engineering works in the eastern part of Artsakh on May 5, NKR Defense Army soldiers discovered an antique necropolis. Deputy Director of State Service for the Protection of Historical Environment of the Department of Tourism of the NKR Ministry of Economy, Diana Mirijanyan noted that during engineering works two ancient necropolises had been found, two complete finds there: trifoliate jug and a 4-piece plate.

“Now the finds are at the Department of Tourism of the Ministry of Economy of NKR, and works on cleaning are now being conducted in order to enroll them into the organization’s fund,” she said, adding that soon research works will begin in that district. Mirijanyan also informed that the finds would be exhibited at the Archaeological museum of Tigranakert within the International Museum day on May 18.
She then didn’t excluded that the antique necropolis and the finds there will attract more tourists in the future.

During military operations unleashed by Azerbaijan in early April, Armenian soldiers discovered other finds as well – a crock dating back to 7 000 BC, a jug and a dagger among them. Overall 5 finds referring to various historical periods were discovered during the period of April-May. Specialists at "Service for the Protection of Historical Environment and Cultural Museum Reservations" non-commercial state organization indicate no date for resuming excavation works considering the military-political situation on the ground, yet they assure to launch the works whenever favorable conditions appear.

http://www.panorama.am/en/news/2016/05/16/Finds-Tigranakert-Archaeological-Museum/1580454

[Yervant1]

news.am, Armenia

Aug 4 2017

“Pot” burial discovered during archaeological excavations at Karabakh’s Tigranakert (PHOTOS)

09:30, 04.08.2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A “pot” burial was unearthed during the archaeological excavation at the ancient Armenian town of Tigranakert, in the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR).

Hamlet Petrosyan, head of the Tigranakert archaeological expedition, told about the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

In his words, the pot was opened, and judging from the objects found therein, this burial dates back between the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.

Together with the remains of the deceased, the tip of an arrow, beads, ram-shaped small jugs, and golden jewelry were put in the pot. Petrosyan explained that this was a form of burial typical of that time.

“These findings in Tigranakert are very important,” he added.

According to Hamlet Petrosyan, Martakert Region of Artsakh is very rich in archeological finds.

Some of the photos are from the Facebook page of Hamlet Petrosyan.

https://news.am/eng/news/403477.html

[Yervant1]

News.am, Armenia

April 12 2018

Archeologist: Excavations in Karabakh have important political significance

16:44, 12.04.2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YEREVAN. – The excavations in Tigranakert, in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), are linked to political processes.

Culturalist, historian, and archeologist Hamlet Petrosyan, who heads the archeological expedition in Tigranakert, on Thursday stated the above-said at a press conference on Thursday.

In his words, in 2004, both the Armenian and the Azerbaijani sides started using the historical facts in Artsakh to promote their interests in connection with the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

The archeologist said his expedition team wished to prove that there are numerous evidences as to the Armenians’ presence in the liberated territories.

As per Petrosyan, every year they find several thousand objects in Tigranakert.

“We have also discovered unique inscriptions,” he added. “There is an Armenian inscription, attributed to the 5th to 7th centuries, which was made on a ceramic disc; this is probably the oldest Armenian inscription in the territory of Karabakh.”

https://news.am/eng/news/445936.html

[Yervant1]

Panorama, Armenia

Sept 3 2019

New discoveries in Tigranakert

The excavation works in Tigranakert, Artsakh, lasted for 40 days this year and concluded on August 26, the head of archaeological expedition in Tigranakert Hamlet Petrosyan told Panorama.am. In his words, the excavation has been financed by Artsakh leadership. This year some 18 million AMD was allocated to the project that involved around 30 workers, members of the expedition and covered some costs related to reconstruction, transportation and photography of the items.

As the head of the expedition informed the works are carried out in three main locations. This year the excavations covered the 20-meter-long part of the northern fence of the fortified region. The total height of the wall is two meters long. Archaeologists hope to conclude the excavations of the whole fence in several years. The fence is of high interest since its layout and structure is unique for the region.

“It seems to have been a reference structure and shows the scale of the initiatives of Tigran the Great, who gathered all famous architects from Asia Minor and Armenia to build a major city.”

Excavations of the second antique district continued this summer. The works in the first district are concluded. In Petrosian’s words, the districts were established next to the fortress in 1st BC comprising separate walls and residential complexes.

“Several cultural layers have been discovered at the site built in the period of Tigran the Great at 1st century BC. Those are laid one on another with the old walls renovated and the new ones built. New tandoors were revealed,” Hamlet Petosyan said.

In the archaeologist’s words, the findings uncovered by a team are mostly pottery – whole jars, pots and casseroles. “The richness of colorful pottery is striking which is phenomenal for the region. We have no monument in Caucasus that contained samples of so many colors and black tuned pottery. This proves Tigranakert had served as a regional hub that also spread modern trends.”

The excavation works in the third location are concentrated on the square of the early Christian period, where two churches have been discovered, the mausoleum, as well as remains of a Christian monument. The plans for this year was to expand the southern yard and the works are focused on layers dated in 12-13th centuries.

“Large complexes with plastered floors and tandoors are of particular important. Among numerous pottery there was a plate with a colored eagle depicted on it that demonstrated the richness of the city,” said the archaeologist

He added that this year they plan to work on top of Tsitsar mountain in front of Tigranakert that contained a mausoleum with underground rooms, where remains of saints were found on the floors. An anthropologist from France have been invited to identify the gender, age and the chronology.

“Excavations works in Tigranakert discover a history of a major city that prospered until the13th century,” concluded Petrosyan.

https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2019/09/03/New-discoveries-in-Tigranakert/2159932

[Yervant1]

Panorama, Armenia

July 2 2021

Culture 14:44 02/07/2021NKR

Azeris do not know how to present Tigranakert - Hamlet Poghosyan

"Azeris have launched a campaign on media, alleging the Armenians have armenized the Shahbulag Castle built by Khan Panaha and developed the 'myth of Tigranakert' for that reason," the head of Artsakh archeological group of Institute of Ethnography Hamlet Petrosyan told Panorama.am, adding the Azeri's attempts are nothing but stupidity.

"They do not conceive the essence of Tigranakert and even have complexes about speaking of it. They have no idea what to accuse us of in case with Tigranakert and have not a defined approach to it, if not present the site as an Albanian ," Petrosyan said.

The archeologist stressed that Tigranakert had been built, according to the best standards of Anatolian Hellenic traditions. "It couldn't be built by one born in Artsakh or Albania but only an imperator who could mobilize the architectural resources of Asia Minor. Apparently, the Azeris have no answer to this question," said Petrosyan.

The head of the archaeological expedition in Tigranakert added that the scale of discoveries made by his group further complicates the arguments and claims brought by the Azerbaijani side.

Petrosyan said that he closely follows the Azerbaijani publications about the archeological site, and except visits, no information about works carried out in the area are reported.

To note, excavations at Tigranakert began in March 2005, when it was first discovered, and until 2020 were ongoing under the directorship of Hamlet L. Petrosyan of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography. Archaeologists have uncovered two of the main walls of the city, as well as Hellenistic-style towers and an Armenian basilica church dating to the fifth to seventh centuries. During the excavations of 2008–2010, silver coins of the Parthian monarchs Mithridates IV (r. 57–54 BC) and Orodes II (r. 57–37 BC) were found.

In June 2010, a museum dedicated to the study and preservation of artefacts unearthed from Tigranakert was opened in the adjacent Shahbulag Castle.

According to the November 9 Karabakh armistice of the Armenian PM, Russian and Azerbaijani presidents, the area was handed handed over to Azerbaijan.

 

https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2021/07/02/Tigranakert-Hamlet-Poghosyan/2529456