Carahunge Prehistoric Monument

Carahunge, also known as Zorats Karer, Dik-Dik Karer, Tsits Karer and Karenish, is a prehistoric archaeological site near the town of Sisian in the Syunik Province of Armenia [1]. The Carahunge site is at latitude 39° 34' longitude 46° 01' on a mountain plateau at an altitude of 1,770 metres and occupies an area of about 7 hectares on the left side of the canyon of the River Dar, a tributary of the river Vorotan [1]. The Carahunge monument consists of the central circle, the north arm, the south arm, the north–east alley, the chord across the circle, and separated standing stones [1]. The site is rich with stone settings, burial cists and standing stones [1]. In total, 223 stones have been identified [1]. The stones are basalt, eroded by time and covered with moss and lichen of many colours [1]. The heights of the stones above ground-level varies from 0.5 to 3 m, and their weights range up to 10 tons [1]. Zorats Karer was investigated in 2000 by archaeologists from the Institut für Vorderasiatische Archäologie, LMU Munich, as part of a field survey of prehistoric sites in southern Armenia [1].