Unveiling the Ancient Secrets of Gegharot: A Joint Armenian-American Archaeological Expedition

Excavations near the village of Gegharot are being carried out within the framework of the joint Armenian-American program “Aragats,” which has been studying the most ancient monuments around Mount Aragats since 2003. The expedition is led by archaeologists Ruben Badalyan and his American colleague, Professor Adam Smith of Cornell University.

Discoveries and Achievements

During the study, specialists discovered three ancient temples in the fortress on the top of the hill, which are 3,300 years old. At that time, local rulers probably used these shrines for divination. Each of the three sanctuaries consists of one room with a clay pool filled with ash and ceramic vessels. A wide variety of artifacts were discovered, including clay idols with horns, stamp seals, censers used for burning substances, and a huge number of animal bones with markings on them.

The Logic of Divination

“The logic of divination suggests that the variable paths describe the past, present, and future, opening up the possibility of changing the relationship between the current situation and the possible outcome,” writes Adam Smith in an article recently published in the American Archaeological Journal. “The fortress at Gegharot is one of several strongholds built at this time in Armenia. It can be assumed that this coordinated process of fortress building was part of the emergence of a unified state.”

One form of divination was osteomancy—predicting the future through rituals associated with the bones of animals: cows, sheep, and goats. Other forms of divination were also used in the sanctuaries, such as lithomancy—predictions with the help of a stone. Inside a pool near one of the sanctuaries, archaeologists found 18 small pebbles. These stones, according to Smith, were chosen because of their smooth, rounded shape and color palette, which ranged from black and dark gray to white, green, and red. How exactly these stones were used in rituals is unknown.

Restoration and Preservation Efforts

At the end of 2017, the results of the competition “Project of the Year and Construction-2017” were summed up. In the nomination “Restoration and reconstruction of a cultural and historical monument,” the winner was the granddaughter of the architect Mikael Mazmanyan, an employee of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, architect Lilit Ter-Minasyan. She was awarded a first-degree diploma for the project of restoration and preservation of the burial mound on the territory of the most ancient monument Gegharot-4.

The burial mounds are located near the Aparan-Spitak highway. Six burial mounds have been excavated so far. “They have a unique architectural composition,” says L. Ter-Minasyan. “In the center of the mound, there is a chamber (the actual burial site), covered with a stone shell. In the fourth mound, 12 ceramic vessels and a human jaw were found. A horseshoe-shaped structure was discovered in the chamber. The reconstruction project completely restores the original appearance of the mound. It is planned to cover the mound with forged glass and restore the shape of the shell.”

Conclusion

The joint Armenian-American archaeological expedition “Aragats” has made significant strides in uncovering the ancient secrets of Gegharot. The discoveries of ancient temples, artifacts, and burial mounds provide valuable insights into the history and culture of the region. The ongoing restoration and preservation efforts ensure that these historical treasures will be protected and appreciated for generations to come.

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