ARCHAEOLOGISTS DISCOVERED ANCIENT ARMENIAN FORTRESS IN TIGRANAKERT
KarabakhOpen
24-08-2007 18:06:40
Dr. Hamlet Petrosyan, the head of the expedition of the Institute of
Archeology and Ethnography, held a news conference on August 24 near
the ruins of the ancient Armenian town of Tigranakert discovered near
the village of Surenavan in the region of Martakert.
It became known that during the excavations the archeologists
discovered an ancient Armenian fortress. The digging of the wall of
the fortress and the church continue, the southern gate was cleared
of the layer of sand. A great number of exponents of ancient and
medieval culture were discovered.
"In exploring the site we discovered a new fortress. We think it was
also built under King Tigran but the study continues. We continue
digging the citadel, the fundament of the fortress, the terrace and
the church. We hope to get a full idea of the main compound by the
end of the excavations.
I also hope to find writings near the church. We found some
fragments but I cannot state yet they are Armenian lithographs,"
Hamlet Petrosyan said.
The archeologist said the excavations are impeded by financial
problems. He said unfortunately this year the Yerkir Union which
supports the excavations provided less funding. "Unfortunately, we
got no help from innumerable Armenian organizations and agencies,
not even the government of Armenia and the Academy of Sciences. Only
the government of Karabakh provided 3.5 million drams in July after
we turned to the prime minister. Meanwhile, the excavations finish but
we haven’t got the money yet. Yesterday they promised to transfer the
money today, I hope they will. This is the first time the government
of Karabakh has helped us, I commend them," Hamlet Petrosyan said.
"In Azerbaijan they say this is political excavations. I want to state
officially this is not political excavations because the political
bodies pay no attention to us. This is an academic initiative. I
haven’t noticed any politics on behalf of the government so far,"
the scientist said.
By the way, the excavations of Tigranakert started in 2005. In the
first year the location of the town was identified, afterwards in 2006
part of the wall of the citadel, the wall of one of the neighborhoods
and part of an early Christian basilica were discovered.
Hamlet Petrosyan is hopeful that the excavations will continue next
year and new buildings and objects will be discovered.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
