Hayk G. Avetisyan is Dean of the Faculty of History at Yerevan State University, Republic of Armenia.  Professor Avetisyan’s doctoral dissertation was devoted to the culture of the Ararat Valley in the XI - VI centuries BC.  He has participated in more than 20 scientific conferences, and is the author of more than 50 publications, mostly concerning Caucasian and ancient Near Eastern archaeology, as well as 5 monographes on archaeological theory.  Professor Avetisyan directed the excavations in Armenia at the settlements of Araums (Bronze - Middle Ages), Avgeshat (Bronze - Iron Ages), and Aragats (Urartian period).