×
![]()
Working Hours
Monday to Friday: 09:00 AM – 06:00 PM Saturday–Sunday: ClosedContact Information
Republic of Armenia, Yerevan, 0025, 15 Charents Street Email:info@iae.am Phone:+37410-55-26-45Find us on Facebook
×
![]()
Excavations at the “Voske Blur” archaeological site
In the southern part of the village of Hayanist, in the Masis region of the Ararat Province of the Republic of Armenia, at an altitude of about 840 meters above sea level, lies the archaeological site of Voske Blur (“Golden Hill”)—one of the best-preserved Early Bronze Age settlements associated with the Kura-Araxes (Shengavit) culture (3500/3350–2600/2500 BC).
The site, located approximately 22 km southwest of Yerevan, is an artificial settlement mound covering an area of about 2.6 hectares. The first archaeological excavations were conducted here in 1975–1976 under the direction of archaeologist Emma Khanzadyan. Since 2020, the Armenian-French Archaeological Project has been active at Voske Blur, implemented within the framework of cooperation between the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Archéorient Laboratory (UMR 5133) of the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). Since that time, the joint Armenian-French expedition has carried out regular excavations and research at the site. The 2025 excavations began in September and are scheduled to conclude on October 8. The work is co-directed by Ruben Badalyan, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Head of the Department of Early Archaeology of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the NAS RA (representing the Armenian side), and Béranger Perello, Doctor of Historical Sciences and representative of the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Lyon (representing the French side).
The expedition team also includes researchers from the Department of Early Archaeology of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography —Armine Harutyunyan (PhD), Levon Aghikyan, and Lilit Ter-Minasyan, researcher of the Architectural Modeling Group of the Institute — as well as Aurélien Creusot, paleontologist and researcher of the Archaeological Service of Lyon, and Sona Hovsepyan, Chief Curator of the Collections of the History Museum of Armenia. This year, excavations continued in the 4th and 5th trenches of the site, and a new, 6th area was opened. During the fieldwork, raw brick walls of varying heights were uncovered, along with pottery fragments characteristic of the Kur-Araxes culture, stone tools, and other finds. Of particular interest are a well-preserved clay hearth and a medieval tonir constructed of baked bricks. According to Dr. Ruben Badalyan, co-leader of the expedition, excavations at Voske Blur are expected to continue in the coming years.
