Archaeological Sites in Armenia
Ancient City of Argishtikhinili
An Urartian city founded in 776 BC by King Argishti I as the northern administrative capital of Urartu, located 15 km southwest of modern Armavir, Armenia. It served primarily as an economic and…
Ancient City of Armavir
Ancient Armavir was a major urban center founded, according to Armenian tradition, by King Aramais around 1980 BC. The ruins lie 1 km west of modern Armavir village, with archaeological evidence…
Areni-1 Cave
Areni-1 cave is a Chalcolithic to Bronze Age multicomponent site located along the Arpa River near Areni village in southern Armenia[1][2]. Known locally as "Birds' Cave" (Trchuneri), the cave gained…
Artashat
Artashat (Greek: Artaxata) was the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Armenia, founded in 176 BC by King Artaxias I, founder of the Artaxiad dynasty [1]. Located on the left bank of the Araks River in…
Baghaberd Fortress
Baghaberd is an Armenian fortress (4th–12th c. AD) perched on a ridge at 1,438 m elevation, overlooking the Voghji River, approximately 14 km northwest of Kapan in Syunik Province[1]. The fortress…
Carahunge Prehistoric Monument
Carahunge (also called Zorats Karer) is a prehistoric megalithic site near Sisian in Armenia's Syunik Province, covering about 7 hectares at 1,770 metres elevation on a plateau above the Dar River…
Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots
UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 2000) comprising Echmiatsin Cathedral and the ruins of Zvartnots in Armenia. Echmiatsin Cathedral, built 301-303 AD by King Trdat III and Saint Gregory the…
Charents Arch
Charents' Arch, also known as the Arch of Ararat, is a monument and tourist attraction in Armenia, erected in 1957 and dedicated to the renowned Armenian poet Yeghishe Charents[1]. Standing at 1500…
Erebuni Fortress
Erebuni Fortress is an Urartian fortified city in Yerevan, Armenia, situated 1,017 metres above sea level[1]. Founded by King Argishti I, it served as a military stronghold protecting the kingdom's…
Garni Temple
The sole surviving Greco-Roman colonnaded structure in Armenia, built c. 70-80 AD by King Tiridates I and dedicated to the sun god Mihr (Mithra). Features 24 Ionic columns standing 6.54m high with…
Geghard Monastery
A medieval Armenian monastery originally founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator, with the main cathedral built in 1215 under the Zakarid generals. Nearly half of the complex's 20+…
Hartashen Megalithic Avenue
The site consists of two avenues of megalithic rocks which do not intersect. These avenues are composed of basalt stones which are placed at an angle, and menhirs are arranged in three rows in each.…
Horom Citadel
Horom Citadel is a Bronze Age through Urartian fortification situated atop two large hills south of the main road, opposite the dam and Kamut Reservoir, approximately 1 km east of the village of…
Karchaghbyur
A village in the Vardenis Municipality of Gegharkunik province, Armenia, previously known as Gedakbulag. Since 1975, archaeologists have been excavating a Persian and Hellenistic period walled…
Metsamor Historical-Archaeological Museum-Reserve
Metsamor is a fortified settlement 32 km west of Yerevan, Armenia, occupied from the 4th millennium BC through the 17th century AD. The site is renowned as one of the earliest known metallurgical…
Old Horom
Horom Citadel is a Bronze Age through Urartian fortress settlement located about 1 km east of the village of Horom in the Shirak Province of Armenia. The complex consists of two citadels on opposing…
Shengavit Settlement
The Shengavit Settlement is an Early Bronze Age archaeological site in present-day Yerevan on a hill southeast of Yerevan Lake. Inhabited from approximately 3000 to 2500 BC during the Kura-Araxes…
Teishebaini
Teishebaini (7th century BC) was the capital of the Transcaucasian provinces of the ancient kingdom of Urartu, located near modern Yerevan in Armenia[1]. This massive fortress and governmental centre…
Teysheba
Odzaberd, originally named Teyseba after the Urartian thunder god, is a fortress situated on a hill east of Tsovinar at the southeast corner of Lake Sevan in Armenia's Gegharkunik Province. Founded…
Ushiberd
Ushiberd is an Iron Age fortress perched on a hill outside Ushi village in Armenia's Aragatsotn Province. The fortification has largely collapsed, with only perimeter wall sections remaining around…
Yereruyk Archaeological Site
One of the earliest surviving Armenian Christian monuments, this basilica near the village of Anipemza in Shirak Province was built in the 5th century by the Kamsarakan princely family. Constructed…