Armenia is one of the most ancient centers of human culture, serving as a crucial link between the Paleolithic cultures of South Asia, the Mediterranean, Central Europe, and Africa. Undoubtedly, Armenia was one of the cradles of primitive man and his culture.
Artistic Heritage
Unlike the early Paleolithic images of Europe, the ancient artists of Armenia used the engraving method. The drawings from this period are more lifelike, featuring small images and excellent technique. These artworks belong to a later period, dating between the Mesolithic and Neolithic eras, as evidenced by the stone tools found in caves with rock paintings.
Stone Tools and Rock Paintings
Armenian craftsmen created wedge-shaped hoes, grain grinders, flint inserts for sickles, obsidian plates, knives, scrapers, and arrowheads from stone. The rock paintings of Armenia form islands of “picture galleries” of primitive art, beginning at the foot of Aragats and covering many alpine slopes of the plateau to the Armenian Taurus, the borders of Syro-Palestine, and Iran.
The Role of the Armenian Highlands
The Armenian Highlands played a significant role in supplying Western Asia, Syria, Palestine, Mesopotamia, and the northern regions of Transcaucasia with obsidian during the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras, and later with copper. Around the 4th millennium BC, obsidian from the mountains of the Armenian Highlands (Sipan, Nemrut, Tandorak, Ararat, Aragats) was transported to Mesopotamia, Syria, and Palestine.
Early Agricultural and Cattle-Breeding Tribes
By the 6th millennium BC, the fertile river valleys of southern Western Asia were inhabited by agricultural and cattle-breeding tribes. During the historical era, the population of the Tigris and Euphrates consisted of two different ethnic elements that spoke different languages and belonged to the Caucasoid group of Armenoid (Near Asian).
The Sumerians and Their Origins
Before the unification of the entire country under the first dynasty of Babylon, the southern part of Mesopotamia, including cities like Eridu, Ur, Larsa, Lagash, Unnu, Adab, Uruk, Shuruppak, and Farru, was inhabited by the Sumerians. Archaeological excavations suggest that the Sumerians inhabited northern Mesopotamia at an early period before moving into Assyria. It is believed that they originated from mountain peoples who descended from the Armenian Highlands, likely in the late Neolithic.
The Japhetic Languages and Armenoids
Speiser refers to this group of languages as Japhetic. Northern Mesopotamia and the mountainous regions of Armenia were inhabited by people who were neither Semites nor Sumerians and differed in their light skin color. Smith calls them Subarites or Hurrians, considering them part of the Armenoid anthropological type. It is possible that their fellow tribesmen occupied Sumer in ancient times.
The Armenoid Tribe of Lushan
For thousands of years, the Armenian Highland, along with neighboring Asia Minor, has been the birthplace of a distinct culture. The Armenoid tribe of Lushan, which carried this anthropological type, has preserved its unique identity. The last representatives of the Armenoids in the inaccessible parts of the country conducted a life-and-death struggle for centuries.
Invasions and Cultural Preservation
The invasions of Semitic tribes, followed by the Seljuk Turks and Mongols, hindered the development and improvement of local civilizations in Western Asia. Despite these challenges, the Armenian Highlands remain a unique corner of the ancient world, preserving its rich cultural heritage.
In conclusion, Armenia’s ancient history and cultural contributions are deeply rooted in its geological and anthropological heritage. The Armenian Highlands have been a cradle of human culture, shaping the development of civilizations across Western Asia and beyond. The resilience and strength of the Armenian people, forged in the stone of their homeland, continue to inspire and captivate the world.
