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Excavations of Teghout deposit zone monument

Since 2009 rescue archaeological surveys and excavations have been conducted in and around the village Teghut (as well as partly in the nearby village Shnogh), where the mining activities are currently concentrated. These investigations guided by S. Hobosyan, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Armenian Academy of sciences and by financing Teghout CJSC.

Doukanadzor. It is located south of Shnogh village, on the left high cost water stream of Doukanadzor. In 2009, excavated in the gorge-near section tandour shaped structure. The cylindrical clay building (XII-XIII centuries) is a part of a metallurgical manufactory based on slag layer or foundry.

Lorut lands (Gharakotuk land). Located in the north-west of Teghout village, on the left high bank of the river Shnogh. It was excavated here 12 stone-box tombstones due to in 5 BC. X-IX centuries, whose rectangular chambers were directed to the east west and were covered by 2-4 anvils. In the burials, there were various clay vessels, cornelian and cement beads, bronze and few iron items. In addition, excavated three vats from the 13th century, of which the first one was ground buried, stone round covers seven barrels and one cask. The second vat was been destroyed; only a part of the sailing-pool was preserved. The third’s floor and walls were been covered with lime. It turned out that a clay pipe was been excreted from the sailing-pool.

In the northern and highest part of the area, the medieval cemetery has been preserved with the footsteps of the ruined church. There are dozens of cross-stones pedestals and one cross stone in the cemetery with the date of the (1513).

The 2010s excavations opened the walls of the church. On the east, there was a rectangular altar. The church’s planning composition has probably been misrepresented as a result of several renovations and there are considerable deviations from the accepted classical church structure.

Bover. Is located south of Shnogh village. The basilica church of Bover village excavated in 2009, which, according to construction techniques, was been built in the late XVII century. According to the oral tradition, it was been called Sergni Monastery. There are also late Bronze and Early Iron age tombs in the region. In 2009-2013, excavated 59 tombs belong to XIII-XII centuries and one belongs to XV-XIV centuries BC. Stone-box chambers are covered 2-4 slabs and was been directed to the east west.

The tombs were find various clay vessels, handle curved pots, single handle jars, bronze bracelets, iron spears, single or no-handles wine cups, cornelian and cement beads. In several tombs, in the drilled holes in the eastern part of the cell, large-sized mortar sheets were been placed (possibly filled with sparkling wine), covered with flat stones fragments, on which the skull of the dead was laid.

Teghout. In 2009, exploration excavations were been carried out in the southeastern part of Teghut village in the Tkhkut area. Two stone-box tombs were excavated, which, according to the burial property, are dated to BC. X-IX centuries. Various sized clay vessels, bronze rings, needle and iron fragments were been found. In 2010, excavations were been carried out in the kindergarten area near Teghout School. Six anvil-box tombs were been excavated dated to XIII-XII centuries BC, three of which had on the bottom of the chamber large clay vessel.

Hatsut. Is located on the left high bank of the Shnogh River, south of Teghut village. The border of the river in the north-east of the area in some parts is dripstone steep reaching ten meters in height, in the eastern part of which was been preserved a large fragment of the granite fence.

By the excavation a large building were opened, probably the central part walls (northeastern part destroyed), with about 2 m thickness, made a common hall divided into three parts by two uniaxial partitions.

In the first section, was opened clay round hearth with charcoal remains. Probably, this is referring to a medieval production complex metallurgical workshop. At the beginning of Hatsut, on the edge of the road in the stream, a broken cane was been observed. The exploration excavations the road edge opened probably the kitchen part of the residential complex belongs to XII-XIII centuries.

Pijut. Is located on the south-west of Teghut village, on the left bank of the stream Dukanadzor River. The site was particularly been damaged in 1973 during landslide works, during which the medieval cemetery and various buildings were ruined as well. In 2010 were discovered early Bronze Age findings, late Bronze Age and early Iron, Hellenistic and Medieval era’s Ceramic debris. During 2014-2015 in the western, elevated part of the ancient settlement, excavated 27 stone-boxes chambered tombstones belong to VIII-VII cc. In the southernmost part of the tomb field, the fragments of the Early Bronze Age debris and the endangered ruins of the stone building were been discovered. Between thousands of tombs, one tomb was well preserved (XXVIII-XXVII centuries), where four clay vessel, bronze earrings and cement beads were found.

Dzorigegh. Is located on the left bank of the Shnogh River, south of Shnogh village. It is a medieval village, where during many years excavations were been found debris fragments, metal items, and sculpted stoves and so on.

During the excavations in 2010-2012 also was been opened early medieval small tombstones with brick walls, anvil-box tomb (XV-XIV cc BCE) (in the chamber there was a wide mouthed kitchen clay jar, two pots and one bowl) as well as a residential complex from early Bronze Age. 

Shek Aghbyur. Is located on the left bank of the Shnogh River in the south of Shnogh, where in 2011, excavated four tombs belong to X-IX centuries. The chambers are oriented east west and covered with 1-2 anvils. Various sized clay vessels, bronze jewelry, bronze spear and belt, dagger, cornelian and cement beads were been found in the tombs.

Kharatanots. It is located on the southwestern shnog village, on the left high bank of the Kharatanots water stream. Here, excavations opened a part of Early Bronze Age production complex, where, according to the finds, metal and obsidian were recycled and weavers worked. It was also excavated nine tombs from IX-VIII cc BC, in which were found various sized clay vessels, bronze bracelets, bronze quilts, bronze rings, cornelian and cement beads.

Bragdzor. Located in the south-west of Shnogh, on the eastern foot of Mount Gugut. There were excavated eight Late Bronze age tombs, which were partially been damaged. Various sized clay vessels, bronze jewelry, iron decayed daggers, cornelian and cement beads were been found.

Bagheri Tchala. Is located on the south-west of Shnogh, on the left high bank of the water Stream of Shnogh River. During the excavation in the first mine contraction area, ceramic debris and some building blocks were been observed. Two vessels were opened by excavations and four different sizes jars were been found near one of them. Also excavated 33 tombs from XII-XI centuries. They were oriented east west and covered with 2-4 anvils. The typical feature of the tombs was the presence of small, probably wine pottery, which put in the chambers floor. Also were been found various sizes of clay vessels, bronze and iron weapon, bronze jewelry, cornelian and cement beads.

Bardzryal (Bardzrel).  It is a chapel at the top of the hill to the west of Teghut village. From the chapel to the south at the top of the rocky slope, there are five successive different sizes dripstones stairs. They have fixed walls of granite large fences.

In 2011, a scenting pit was set on the first dripstone. A building was opened, attached to it has been found drilled in the granite ground two wells with about 5 tons of capacity and 3 meters in diameter. From the area of 80 square meters, were found 65 boat-like mill pieces, three of which were been put on the edge of a well. In addition, medieval ceramic debris have discovered (VIII-VII cc). Excavations in this site was not been completed and according to preliminary data; we are dealing with a production area, probably cereals processing structure. Further excavations will enable us to discover the essence of this monument.

In 2012-2013 Bardzryal archaeological area, 86 tombs have been excavated (XI-X centuries), which were particularly damaged because of long-term farming activities. Part of the tombs was completely empty. There were been found various sizes of clay vessels, bronze jewelry, bracelets, iron weapons and tools, cornelian and cement beads.

Znganek. It is located on the eastern foot of Mount Gugut, southwest of Shnogh village. In the area there was a medieval village where a part of the cemetery was preserved. The area was a medieval village, where a part of the cemetery was preserved.

In 2015, excavations took place on the northern edge of Znganek, where, on the fields crossing road’s edge were been observed a stone pile. It turned out, that it was almost completely destroyed stone-box tombs (X-IX centuries BC). The dead was on the left side. Four bronze clay vessels, bronze bracelets, bronze earrings, bronze rings, cornelian and cement beads were been found in the chamber.

Reference

 

Director of the excavations

Dr. Suren Hobosyan