Events
Lecture: “Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Protection: International and Local Policies”
On April 8, another seminar of the Ethnography Department was held in the reading hall of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography (IAE) of the NAS of the Republic of Armenia. The lecture, entitled “Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Protection: International and Local Policies,” was delivered by ethnographer Ruzanna Tsaturyan, a researcher in the same department. The event was attended by Deputy Director of the IAE Tork Dalalyan, Head of the Department of Ethnography Suren Hobosyan, and other researchers. In her lecture, the speaker addressed the 2006 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, with particular emphasis on issues related to the cultural heritage of Artsakh. At the end of the seminar, attendees posed questions to the speaker.
2025-04-08
Lecture on the compilation of the collection entitled “Dance and Song Folklore of Shirak: Games”
On April 3, another seminar of the Department of Folklore Textology was held in the conference hall of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia. The speaker was Hasmik Galstyan, a researcher of the department, Ph.D. in Philology. Together with Hasmik Harutyunyan, a senior researcher at the Shirak Center for Armenian Studies of the NAS RA and a musicologist (Ph.D in Art History), and Hasmik Matikyan, a researcher at the same center (Ph.D. in Philology), Galstyan initiated the compilation of the collection entitled “Dance and Song Folklore of Shirak: Games.” The seminar was dedicated to this project. During the event, the speakers discussed various questions and challenges that arose during the compilation process. The resulting book is a collection of folklore texts accompanied by a hand-written songbook.
2025-04-03
The Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the NAS RA Holds Scientific Council Meeting to Present 2024 Excavation Results
From March 26 to 28, the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (IAE NAS RA) is holding a meeting of its Scientific Council to present the results of archaeological excavations and research conducted in 2024. The first session took place in the small conference hall of the NAS RA. Among those in attendance were Academician-Secretary of the Department of Armenian Studies and Social Sciences of the NAS RA, Corresponding Member of the Academy, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Yuri Suvaryan; researchers from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography; and others interested in the field. The meeting was opened by the Director of the IAE, Dr. Arsen Bobokhyan, who reported that 30 archaeological sites across Armenia were excavated and studied during the 2024 reporting year. These sites span a broad chronological range—from the prehistoric period to the late Middle Ages—and the results have significantly contributed to the discovery, understanding, and popularization of Armenia’s rich historical and cultural heritage. Dr. Bobokhyan also highlighted the wide scope of international collaboration, with partnerships extending from the United States to Japan, reflecting growing global interest in Armenia’s archaeological legacy. The first speaker, participating remotely, was Kristine Martirosyan-Olshansky of the University of California, Los Angeles (USA). She presented the findings from the 2024 excavations at the Masis Blur archaeological site, carried out under the direction of Pavel Avetisyan, Scientific Director of the Institute and Corresponding Member of the NAS RA. Following her, archaeologist Boris Gasparyan presented the results of the 2024 excavations at the Lernagog-1 site in the Armavir region. Eight additional presentations were scheduled for the day. The sessions will continue on March 27 and 28 at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography (Charents Street 15).
2025-03-26
Lecture: "Modern Tools of Folklore Collection: The Folklorist in the Field and on the Internet"
On March 20, a lecture entitled "Modern Tools of Folklore Collection: The Folklorist in the Field and on the Internet" was held as part of the "Folkloristic Discussions" at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography. During the lecture, the issue of combining traditional folklore collection methods with modern technologies was discussed. The presentation covered what can be considered modern folklore, how this material can be recorded, and what its research can reveal. Folklorist and Ph.D. in Philology, Nvard Vardanyan, speaking about the traditional approach, noted that it still remains a phenomenon with a greater impact. However, she also emphasized the importance of the new approach to folklore collection—the study of the Internet domain as an innovative and modern platform for the dissemination of various materials. The discussion addressed the complications that may arise on the Internet regarding data verification, source validation, and information integration. The participants also discussed the importance of preserving traditional methods to ensure that the field does not lose its character. In the second part of the seminar, a lively discussion took place on the refinement of terms, their creation, and development within the Armenian context. It was emphasized that the development of science does not necessarily have to follow a mechanical copying of foreign models. Instead, it is essential to utilize the vast knowledge and skills that have been developed in our own reality, while also comparing them to the achievements of international science.
2025-03-20
Armine Tigranyan defended her PhD thesis entitled “Preservation of Cultural Heritage: Theoretical Approaches, International Experience and Problems of Preservation of Artsakh’s Cultural Heritage”
On March 20, the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the NAS RA held a Ph.D. dissertation defense in the field of Historical Sciences, specializing in “Culturology” (Թ․ 00.06). At a session of the Professional Council of the Higher Education and Science Committee 007, operating under the NAS RA, Armine Tigranyan, a researcher at the Department of Culturology of the Faculty of History at Yerevan State University, defended her Ph.D. thesis entitled “Preservation of Cultural Heritage: Theoretical Approaches, International Experience, and Problems of Preservation of Artsakh’s Cultural Heritage.” The session was attended by Arsen Bobokhyan, Director of the Institute, researchers from various departments, students, and individuals interested in the topic. The leading institution for the dissertation was the Institute of History of the NAS RA. The session was chaired by Pavel Avetisyan, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Corresponding Member of the NAS RA, who emphasized the importance of the dissertation topic in his opening remarks. Arsen Harutyunyan, the Scientific Secretary of the Professional Council, welcomed the attendees and noted that the dissertation topic had been approved by the Scientific Council of the Faculty of History at Yerevan State University. The scientific supervisor of the dissertation was Professor Hamlet Petrosyan (Doctor of Historical Sciences). The official opponents were Associate Professors Tamar L. Hayrapetyan (Doctor of Historical Sciences) and Arsen A. Hakobyan (Ph.D. in History). In her presentation, A. Tigranyan noted that as of September 2020, approximately 4,000 monuments had been registered in the territory of the Republic of Artsakh, most of which belong to the Armenian Christian heritage from the 4th to the 19th centuries. The goal of her research was to examine theoretical approaches to cultural heritage preservation and to analyze international experiences—including conventions, declarations, regulations, policies of international organizations, resolutions, and decisions—in order to identify current issues concerning the preservation of Artsakh’s cultural heritage and propose possible mechanisms for its protection. According to the author, the scientific novelty of the research is twofold: first, it frames the protection of Artsakh’s cultural heritage within the broader concept of cultural heritage; second, it considers the destruction of cultural heritage, war crimes, cultural genocide, ethnic cleansing, and displacement as components of a unified system. A.Tigranyan outlined the theoretical foundations and methodology of her research, its practical significance, and the main findings of the dissertation. Following her presentation, the scientific supervisor and official opponents delivered their evaluations. While the opponents acknowledged some shortcomings in the work, they concluded that these did not significantly impact the quality or integrity of the research. After the discussion, a vote was held, and by unanimous decision of the Professional Council, Armine Tigranyan was awarded the degree of Ph.D. in History.
2025-03-20
