The presentation of the volume "Aruch. Rediscovering a Medieval Armenian Capital (Archaeological Campaigns 2022–2025)".

On June 1, the Round Hall of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia hosted the presentation of the volume "Aruch. Rediscovering a Medieval Armenian Capital (Archaeological Campaigns 2022–2025)".

Archaeological excavations at the fortress of Aruch village were conducted by the Armenian–Italian archaeological mission, and the results of these investigations have now been published in this important scholarly work.

Among those attending the event were Alessandro Ferranti, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic to Armenia; Academician Yuri Suvaryan; Pavel Avetisyan, Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia; Valerio Rossi, President of ISMEO; Arsen Bobokhyan, Director of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the NAS RA; as well as archaeologists, historians, members of the expedition, and invited guests.

The opening remarks were delivered by Arsen Bobokhyan, Director of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, who emphasized the significance of the research and excavations carried out by the Armenian–Italian archaeological mission, as well as the publication of the volume summarizing their results. Greetings were also delivered by Alessandro Ferranti, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic to Armenia. Pavel Avetisyan, Vice-President of the NAS RA, highly praised both the scholarly importance of the publication and the Armenian–Italian cooperation in the field of archaeology. He also noted that Italian archaeologists are currently collaborating with their Armenian colleagues on archaeological investigations at Dvin under the direction of archaeologist Hamlet Petrosyan, as well as at other archaeological sites. Valerio Rossi, President of ISMEO, likewise highlighted the importance of the Armenian–Italian archaeological mission and the value of the newly published volume. The book was presented by its co-authors: Astghik Babajanyan, Scientific Secretary of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the NAS RA and Co-Director of the Aruch Archaeological Mission, and Sergio Ferdinandi, Vice-President of ISMEO, Co-Director of the Aruch Archaeological Mission, and Coordinator of the Aruch Project of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).

 The new scholarly volume dedicated to the medieval historical and cultural heritage of Aruch presents the results of four years of Armenian–Italian archaeological collaboration and offers a comprehensive reassessment of the site as an important political, cultural, and economic centre of medieval Armenia. The study focuses on the medieval fortress, examining it within the broader built and cultural landscape of Aruch. The authors reconstruct its architectural layout, functional spaces, and the long sequences of occupation, reuse, and transformation extending from the medieval period into the Early Modern era. The research demonstrates that Aruch, combining the functions of both religious and secular centres of authority and possessing a developed system of fortifications and infrastructure, was not merely a settlement or a stop along communication routes, but a vibrant and multifunctional centre of medieval life. The second part of the volume is devoted to the role of cultural heritage as a key driver of sustainable rural development. It presents the ongoing programmes for the conservation, restoration, and promotion of Aruch, aiming to integrate archaeological research into broader processes of heritage management and the development of an eco-archaeological park.