Origins of Artsakh Trace Back at the 7th Century BC

During excavations in Karmir Blur, archaeologists discovered 4 bronze wands. Those indicate that in the Iron Age, Armenians had 4 viceroys, one of which supervised Artsakh.

The excavations showed that in the times of the Kingdom of Van, Armenia has been divided into provinces, each controlled by a “vice king”. The wands, those highest symbols of power, have been put in the mausoleums along with the rulers after their death.

Head of the expeditionary group and deputy director of the Research Center of the Historical-Cultural Legacy Hakob Simonyan said, “Now, it is proven that Artsakh has been a part of the Kingdom of Van in the 8th-7th centuries BC. The excavations refute all the statements that Artsakh hasn’t been an Armenian province.”

Additionally, the excavations allow the scientists to determine the origins of the population of the Kingdom of Van.

“The Urartians were natives of the Armenian Valley. I am sure that the kingdom known today as Urartu is an Armenian state, which had a mostly Armenian element in its population.”

Several other interesting artifacts were unearthed during the excavations, including jewelry (necklaces, cufflinks, bracelets) and a huge arsenal of weapons.