Authorities in Nagorno Karabakh have plans to turn the 50 hectare excavation site of the ruins of Tigranakert – an ancient city founded by Armenian King Tigran the Great in the 1st century BCE – into a tourist destination. Meanwhile, members of the archeological excavation team at the site are puzzled as to why Armenian authorities have not realized the political capital the site holds.
The archeologists say Tigranakert is evidence of the land belonging to Armenians centuries before the area became a battleground for rights to claim Karabakh. They say their findings historically refute Azerbaijan’s insistence that it has always been Azeri territory. The Azeri position is that Armenians were never settled in Karabakh until the 19th century.
For five years, head of Yerkir Miutyun (Country Union) NGO Sevak Artsruni – the initiator of the archaeological excavation – has said that Tigranakert is not simply an important monument, it is a serious political argument enabling Armenian authorities to give a grounded response to Azerbaijan's frequently voiced claims that Armenians are newcomers.
Hamlet Petrosyan, who led the Artsakh Archeological Expedition of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography (the RA National Academy of Sciences) said Armenian authorities have responded “with indifference” to the significant discoveries at Tigranakert.
Earlier this year a museum displaying the artifacts found during the excavation opened at the site which is now equipped with multi-language information panels, set up on the initiative of the Karabakhi government. The excavation continues, supported since 2008 by the Karabakh government (30 million drams ($83,000) a year) and receives about 12,000 visitors a year, according to the NKR Tourism Department.
The outline of the ancient city, covered by a thick layer of earth over the centuries, is now open to view. From a 20-kilometre distance one can see the citadel’s defensive walls, stretching for 120 meters and reaching 5 meters in height at certain points of the wall.
Besides the wall, ruins of a medieval basilica, an ancient residential district and a tomb field have been partly unearthed.
This year in spring the museum of Tigranakert artifacts opened at the renovated hall of the 18th century castle of Persian Panah Khan which stands next to the city ruins.
Some 200 items, which are only part of the artifacts found as a result of five years of excavation, are displayed at the museum. Twenty five illustrated information panels in three languages (Armenian, English, Russian) are installed there telling in detail how the site was discovered, inform the visitor about the archeological research, the history and the plan of the ancient city, etc.
One of the most recent archaeological finds – a 600 litre clay jar unearthed at the ancient residential district of Tigranakert two months ago – will soon be among the museum exhibits.
Archaeologist Petrosyan stresses that the excavations did not have any political pursuit, and that the main driving force was to find one of the six cities built by King Tigran the Great, according to Armenian written records. However, he says that “It is an important argument for our country as it solidifies our position. It’s impossible not to reckon with the existence of an Armenian city the northern defensive wall of which stretches for 120 meters; all of this is clearly visible from the Azeri outposts, so they cannot deny it anymore.”
Azerbaijan’s response, as expected, was to reject the findings.
In 2005, Hudrat Ismailzade, head of Archaeology and Ethnography Department at Baku State University, said: “We once thoroughly researched the now occupied authentic Azeri territories, so no matter how much they dig the Armenians cannot find any traces of their ‘ancestors’ in Karabakh”.
When later the news about the discovery of Tigranakert spread and the results of the excavation were presented to different countries, Azerbaijan’s Academy of Sciences declared that it is not Armenian and that it is the “Afghan Tigranakert”.
“Well, that was to be expected, that’s understandable, what does not make sense is the indifference of our Academy of Sciences; there have even been cases when it made attempts to hinder the excavation,” says Petrosyan.
Part of the artifacts from Tigranakert are now at the laboratory of the Yerevan State University, because the Academy refused to provide its laboratory, nor did it offer financial support to the expedition.
“International organizations refuse to support these excavations, since they are carried out in an unrecognized state, however the same attitude is shown by the Armenia-based Armenians,” says Petrosyan with frustration.
The team has turned to several commercial companies and organizations in Armenia, and the President’s Office trying to get money to continue the work. So far, none has been realized.
The RA Ministry of Culture says it is unaware of any financial needs the Tigranakert expedition has. The head of the MOC public relations department said that they highly appreciate the accomplished work; nonetheless the ministry is not planning to show financial assistance in the nearest future.
Author: Gayane Abrahamyan | Source: Armenia Now [November 03, 2010]