Events
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.
2025-10-09
"Science Week: Armenia 2025" Launched in Armenia
The "Science Week: Armenia 2025" event was launched on September 30. It is dedicated to promoting science and technology. Under the motto "Developing Through Science," the six-day program will feature events that present science, technology, and art fields. Leading specialists from Armenia’s state and academic, educational, technological, and creative organizations are participating in the event, which aims to make science more accessible to the broader public. The Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia (NAS RA) also actively participates in the week’s activities. The institute is represented through its remote laboratories, including: “Interdisciplinary Armenian Cultural Heritage Studies” (Project No. 23RL-6A006), “Armenian Highland and Bronze Age World System. Ancient technology in the prism of experimental archaeology (Project No. 23RL-6A041). The laboratories present their research, organize quiz contests, showcase archaeological reconstructions, and hold interactive games to foster visitors’ interest in science and heritage.
2025-10-02
Lecture: “The Guide and the Staged Cultural Heritage: Building Authentic Guiding in Post-Soviet Armenia.”
On September 29, 2025, the first autumn seminar was held at the Department of Anthropology of Social Processes and Institutions of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, NAS RA. The seminar featured a presentation by Garik Atanesyan, a researcher at the department, on the topic “The Guide and the Staged Cultural Heritage: Building Authentic Guiding in Post-Soviet Armenia.” The head of the department, Mihran Galstyan (PhD), introduced the theme and highlighted its importance for contemporary guiding practices. In his talk, G. Atanesyan addressed challenges facing the guiding sector in Armenia, drawing comparisons with the experience of Western countries. The presentation was followed by an active discussion, both during and after the seminar
2025-09-29
Lecture: “The Untypical Heritage of Hrachya Acharyan: Hayardzan.”
On September 25, the Departments of Epigraphy and Medieval Archaeology of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, NAS RA, held a seminar in the Institute’s reading room as part of the “Medieval Studies Discussions” series. The presentation was delivered by Susanna Adamyan (PhD), a researcher in the Department of Epigraphy, on the topic “The Untypical Heritage of Hrachya Acharyan: Hayardzan.” The event was attended by the Institute’s Deputy Director, Tork Dalalyan, scholars from various departments, and invited guests. The speaker was introduced by Arsen Harutyunyan (PhD), Head of the Department of Epigraphy, who noted that this was the first seminar of the autumn cycle. He highlighted the significance of Acharyan’s monumental, though unpublished, work, which has drawn the attention of many epigraphers since the time of Sedrak Barkhudaryan. In her lecture, Adamyan first presented the biography of the eminent Armenian linguist Hrachya Acharyan, underlining his exceptional contribution to Armenian and world linguistics. She placed particular emphasis on Acharyan’s work “Hayardzan,” an extraordinary collection of Armenian epigraphic inscriptions comprising around 2,000 samples and 1,753 manuscript pages. The collection encompasses materials from Constantinople to Caucasian Albania, as well as from Iran, Georgia, and Russia. Adamyan pointed out that none of Acharyan’s biographers had mentioned the existence of this work, though epigraphers are now actively studying it. She also noted that the Yeghishe Charents Museum of Literature and Art has supported research on the manuscript. According to Adamyan, one of the key motivations for compiling “Hayardzan” was an award competition announced in 1912 by the Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages. The lecture concluded with a lively discussion. Participants posed questions, shared additional insights into Acharyan’s scholarly activities, and underscored the urgent need to publish this invaluable work.
2025-09-27
Lecture: “Anthropomorphism: Humanization of Flora and Fauna in the Fairy-Tale Environment”
On September 18, 2025, the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (IAE) hosted the first autumn lecture of the Department of Folklore. Dr. Alvard Jivanyan, Doctor of Philology and lecturer at Yerevan State University, delivered a presentation entitled “Anthropomorphism: Humanization of Flora and Fauna in the Fairy-Tale Environment” as part of the IAE’s Folkloristic Discussions series. The event was attended by staff members of various departments of the Institute, as well as other interested participants. The Deputy Director of the IAE, Tork Dalalyan, welcomed the audience, introduced the speaker, and emphasized the importance of cooperation between the Institute and other scholarly institutions. In her lecture, Dr. Jivanyan addressed the phenomenon of the “interchangeability of human beings and nature” in Armenian and world folklore. She presented examples of the attribution of human traits to natural phenomena (anthropomorphism), as well as the opposite process—the assimilation of humans to nature (dehumanization). She also touched upon several related issues connected with the topic. The lecture concluded with a question-and-answer session and discussion.
2025-09-18
Lecture: “Problems of Restoration and Museification of Dashtadem Fortress.”
On 17 September 2025, the Research Group on Architectural Modeling of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the NAS RA organized a seminar. Archaeologist Sose Aghayan presented on the topic “Problems of Restoration and Museification of Dashtadem Fortress.” The event was attended both by members of the research group and by all those interested in the subject. Dashtadem Fortress, also known as Kagheni Berd, is located in the Aragatsotn Province, near the town of Talin, in the village of Dashtadem. The speaker discussed the architectural and structural challenges of the fortress, emphasizing that they stem from both historical events and human and natural factors. Settlement of the fortress territory after the Armenian Genocide, interventions undertaken over the subsequent centuries, and natural disasters—most notably the 1988 Spitak earthquake—caused significant damage to the medieval structures. The situation is further complicated by the fact that previous excavations were not completed, and new restoration works often did not align with earlier interventions. The first excavations at Dashtadem Fortress were carried out in 1989–1990, and in the 2000s, they were continued as part of restoration programs. Since 2015, an expedition team from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography has been conducting systematic excavations at the fortress, simultaneously clearing the complex of extraneous constructions. The first attempts at restoring the fortress date back to 1961, when a collapsed section of the fortress wall was reinforced. Sose Aghayan particularly emphasized that the fortress contains layers from the 12th to the 20th centuries, which complicates both the excavation process and its interpretation. She also noted the uncertainty regarding the sequence of construction, which is difficult to determine without comprehensive excavations. The speaker addressed not only archaeological but also conceptual and museological issues, stressing the need to balance the medieval reality with museum presentation, the importance of integrating modern museum practices, and the organization of interactive activities. She also highlighted public and social aspects, noting that the implementation of programs for the preservation and museification of the fortress requires adequate financial resources. At the conclusion of the seminar, a discussion took place in which participants asked questions and provided suggestions to the speaker.
2025-09-18
