1,500 MONUMENTS REGISTERED IN LIBERATED TERRITORIES OF NAGORNO KARABAKH

Armenpress

YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS: At present around 1,500 archeological,
architectural and historic monuments are registered in the liberated
territories of Nagorno Karabakh.

Hakob Simonian, the director of the scientific-research center of
historic-cultural heritage at the Armenian Culture and Youth Affairs
Ministry, told Armenpress that during the war the center organized
expeditions during which the members took photos of the monuments,
formed their certificates and made excavations. Simonian noted that
during the first expedition in 1990 surveys were conducted in Getashen
and Martunashen, in 1992 in Kashatagh, Aghdam, Fizuli, Jabrayil,
Zangelan, Kelbajar and Kubatlu.

According to Simonian, the surveys were conducted mainly during war
time as at that time the Armenians were to prove that the territories
belong to them.

Simonian said thanks to the conducted survey "at present we have a
‘tool’ and in case it is used in the diplomatic way we can prove that
these territories belong to Armenians.

>From 1997 to 2001 excavations were conducted in Tsitsernavank, during
which 6 monuments were studied.

Simonian also underscored the excavations of Kerin tomb-field which
started in 2003 and continue up to now.