VIVACELL-MTS INSTALLS MULTILANGUAGE PANELS AT ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING HISTORICAL, CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS SITES OF ON THE EARTH

ArmInfo
2009-06-29 17:55:00

ArmInfo – VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of Mobile TeleSystems OJSC
("MTS" – NYSE: MBT) and the Armenian Monuments Awareness Project
(AMAP) today announce the next installation of its program of marking
historic sites.

Karahundj is the fifth historic site marked this year by AMAP, whose
goal is to promote tourism, education and preservation of such sites
by providing well-researched information with professional language
translation.

One of the most mysterious places on earth, the standing stones at
Karahundj (also known as Zorakar, Zorats Karer or Zorats Kar) are
filled with ambiguity and controversy, archeologists, astronomers and
historians still struggling to understand their purpose and date. The
mystery of Karahundj – "Armenia’s Stonehenge" – may never be solved,
but visitors to the unique site in the Siunik province now can
learn more about the provocative territory due to information panels
installed by the Armenian Monuments Awareness Project (AMAP). Seven
panels will be presented at Karahundj, with information in five
languages telling of the seven-hectare site’s peculiar display of
standing stones – believed to have astrological, archeological,
anthropological and even spiritual significance.

Karahundj is a megalithic composition of Bronze Age tombs (cists,
dolmens or tumuli) and over 230 standing stones (menhirs). The two
intertwined features (cist graves and standing stones) are the focus
of debate in Armenia.

Archeologists and astronomers do not agree on the dating or purpose
of the standing stones, but do note their similarity to menhirs and
stone circles found in other parts of Eurasia; in Iceland, Ireland,
Scotland (Callinish), France’s Languedoc region (Carnac) to the
eastern Mediterranean, and, perhaps most famous, the stone circles
found at Avesbury, England (Stonehenge).

Regarded astrophysicist Elma Parsamian, who led the first scientific
study of Karahundj, was among guests at the AMAP presentation to
offer her insight. Professor Parsamian has also studied astrological
phenomena as recorded on rocks at Metsamor. Elma Parsamian conducted
the first astronomical study of Karahundj in 1983. This was followed in
1987 by a second study with her colleague Alexander Barseghian. Working
at nights, the researchers concluded that the ensemble was used in
part to scan the night sky, noting the numerous ‘eye-holes’ in 84 of
the stones. Later investigations of the site were made by a variety
of researchers-amateur and professional- including a series led by
Professor Paris Heruni of the Radiophysics Research Institute. Heruni
claimed the site was established as an observatory 7,500 years ago. The
more than 220 standing stones here are physically compelling just for
their unusual presentation. Now, when visitors are already able to
learn of the speculations surrounding the site, it makes Karahundj
even more attractive.

Since its pilot project launch last year, AMAP has installed
information panels at nine sites that include such locations
of religious, cultural and environmental significance as Giumri,
Zvartnots, Khor Virap, Noravank and Garni. Most recently it completed
installations at Amberd, where AMAP also marked a 3.3-kilometer nature
trail following an ancient path from the Amberd castle toward the
Ararat Valley.

At the end of this project cycle, AMAP will have erected more than
120 information panels and 100 directional road signs for 19 Armenian
monuments.

The project of 2009 includes a component for the blind children –
special panels will be installed with Braille characters to allow
blind people to read.

AMAP receives major sponsorship from VivaCell-MTS and is also supported
by the Honorary Consul of Italy and by the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) through its Competitive Armenia
Private Sector (CAPS) program.

The protection of cultural values and culture itself is everyone’s
duty – this is the main principle of the organizers.