The best way to explore the past is to embark on an archeological tour in Armenia, a country that is located at the crossroads of ancient civilizations. They often call Armenia a museum under the open sky for numerous artifacts, monasteries, and fortresses that are witnesses of the country’s vibrant past.
A journey to archeological sites will uncover the secrets of the Neolithic Age and will offer a unique opportunity to walk in the footsteps of ancient civilizations. Tourists can find inscriptions belonging to Urartian kings or come across massive stones dating back to the Bronze Age.
An archaeological tour will tell the story of forgotten trade routes and cultural exchanges and will guide you on a remarkable expedition where the past comes alive. This article will brief you on the most impressive sites that archaeology enthusiasts can visit when traveling to Armenia.
Museums
The first step of the archeology tour is a visit to the History Museum of Armenia which is also a research center with a collection of around 400 thousand artefacts. It showcases Armenia’s evolution from prehistoric times to the present day.
Moreover, the archeological collection includes objects dating from 1,000,000-12,000 BC discovered in the various Armenian settlements. Here you can find hand axes, clay pottery objects of the Neolithic Age, and colored ritual vessels.
Erebuni Archaeological Museum is a place to step back in time and discover the pieces found during the excavations of an ancient city. The place where the museum is located now was once the Urartian Fortress Erebuni founded in 782 BC. In addition to fortifications of the ancient city, the tourists can explore the museum’s collection of more than 12 thousand exhibits, including jars, bronze bracelets, and potter wheels.
Areni Cave
You do not need a time machine to travel back in time, just a car or a minibus taking you 100 kilometers away from Yerevan to Vayots Dzor province. Here you can find another impressive archeological site – Areni cave, the cradle of winemaking where a 6,100-yead-old winery was discovered by Armenian and Irish archeologists.
In addition to a winery, the researchers found a 5,500-year-old leather shoe, the oldest known piece of footwear, and a 5,900-year-old woman’s straw-woven skirt. Archaeologists also discovered three human skulls with the oldest known human brain.
Thus, the Areni-1 site is a must-visit destination for those who want to see a place where people lived thousands of years ago.
Zorats Qarer
Carahunge or Zorats Qarer located in Syunik province is a prehistoric archaeological site often referred to as “Armenia’s Stonehenge” for its mysterious nature. According to some claims, it is an ancient astronomical observatory. However, there is still no general agreement about the purpose and origin of the monument. There is also a theory that Carahunge is a burial place.
There are 223 stones on the territory of around 7 hectares, and 80 of them have a circular hole. Surprisingly, during windy days they make whistling sounds when the wind blows through stones. This explains the name Carahunge deriving from “car” which means stone in Armenian and “hunge” meaning sound.
One of the recent research projects suggests the monument dates back to the period from the Middle Bronze Age to the Iron Age.
Metsamor
Photo: Wikipedia
The Metsamor Historical Archaeological Museum is a repository with a collection of over 20 thousand objects discovered during the excavation of an old fortress in Armavir province.
Metsamor was a large settlement and an important cultural and trade center dating back to the Bronze Age. The exhibits found since the excavations started in the 1960s include pottery, jewelry, and metalwork. There are some priceless finds such as a frog-shaped figure made of agate or a carnelian seal belonging to Babylonian kings.
Thus, you can have a first-hand insight into the lives, beliefs, and craftsmanship of those who once inhabited the area thousands of years ago.
Agarak
Another captivating portal to Armenia’s ancient times is the Agarak site in Aragatsotn province. There are rock wells and rock-cut stairways that are believed to be one of the oldest structures made by man dating to the Early Bronze Age.
The large-scale excavations of the site discovered the remains of streets, potsherds, and clay fireplaces. There are also coins and rings from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The site’s historical significance is underscored by its strategic location along ancient trade routes. Thus, the Agarak site stretching around 200 hectares enables tourists to connect with the past and have lasting memories of Armenia.
How to Choose the Best Archeological Tour in Armenia?
We mentioned just a few of the archaeological sites that a tourist can visit during a journey to Armenia. Unusual old monuments can appear in your way even if you stroll along the streets of the capital city Yerevan. For example, you can come across “a dragon stone” or a vishapakar, a massive stone in fish or balm form. It is difficult to determine how old the stone structures are, but they are many of them on the territory of Armenia.
Selecting an ideal archeological tour requires profound research and a reliable tour agent having deep expertise. It’s very important to have experienced guides with a comprehensive understanding of Armenia’s heritage.
If you are still not sure what tour to choose, you can study the itinerary of Levon Travel’s Archaeology and Rock-Art Tour. Another option is to ask for a personalized tour that aligns with your interests and budget.