2006-RC-012

$25,000

Dr. Gregory E. Areshian and Dr. Simon Hmayakyan

Research Associate at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at the University of California at Los Angeles (Areshian).

Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences, Armenia (Hmayakyan).

The goal of this study is to assess and document the most endangered archaeological sites and cultural monuments in Armenia and Karabagh, ranked both according to their scientific and cultural importance and the degree of threat of damage or destruction faced by them.  Armenia has a rich archaeological record of international significance.  This record, which represents its heritage, is both fragile and finite, and must be assiduously safeguarded.  During the last several decades hundreds of sites and monuments have become completely dilapidated or severely damaged due to inappropriate land use, construction, industrial and urban development, vandalism, looting, and natural erosion. Although catalogues of Armenian cultural sites have been compiled several times by governmental entities, none of them has ever been brought to the level of international standards, nor have they been published and disseminated. The Red Book of Armenian Antiquities, therefore, will be the first of its kind.

This groundbreaking project will have a long term, beneficial influence on the direction of Armenian archaeology by providing a foundation for a new strategy of cultural resource management in Armenia and Karabagh. It could serve to encourage land developers, farmers and others to engage in more responsible land use practices, and to cooperate with archaeologists by notifying them of discoveries of archaeological sites during construction and farming projects.