Zorats Karer
Encyclopedia
Zorats Karer also called Karahunj, Carahunge or the Armenian Stonehenge) is an archaeological site near the city of Sisian
in the Syunik
province of Armenia
.
. About 223 large stone tombs can be found in the area. It was explored by a team of archaeologists from the Institut für Vorderasiatische Archäologie, University of Munich who published their findings in 2000. They concluded that "in contrast to the opinion that Zorakarer may be called an Armenian Stonehenge", Zorats Karer "was mainly a necropolis from the Middle Bronze Age to the Iron Age
." The Munich archaeologists add that it may have served "as a place of refuge in times of war", possibly in the Hellenistic - Roman
period (c. 300 BC - 300 AD). A wall of rocks and compacted soil (loam
) was built around the site with vertical rocks plugged into it for reinforcement: today only these upright rocks remain.
About 84 of the stones feature a circular hole, although only about 50 of the stones survive. They have been of interest to Russian and Armenian archaeoastronomists
who have suggested that the standing stones could have been used for astronomical observation. This suggestion was made by observers who noted four stone holes which could be claimed to be sighted at the point on the horizon where the sun rises on midsummer
's day. Four others standing stones display holes which observers claimed point where the sun sets on the same day. However, this must remain conjectural as the holes are relatively unweathered and may not even be prehistoric in origin.
In the nearby city of Sisian, there is a small museum dedicated to findings in the area, including palaeolithic petroglyphs found on mountain tops in the area, and grave artefacts form the Bronze Age burial site with over 200 shaft graves.
In 2004 the site was officially named the Karahunj (Carahunge) Observatory, by Parliamentary decree (Government decision No. 1095-n, July 29, 2004).
and by Elma Parsamyan of Biurakan Observatory.
According to Herouni, the site was "a temple with a large and developed observatory, and also a university". He thinks that the temple was dedicated to the Armenian
sun-god Ari. He made a survey of the site and claimed it was 7600–4500 years old.
Herouni has proposed a further hypothesis, that some stones of the monument mirror the biggest star of the Cygnus
constellation - Deneb. A stone discovered in Gobekli Tepe
in modern Turkey excavated by German archaeologist Klaus Schmidt, shows the map of the night sky (Cygnus constellation), which in the Karahunj monument, as V. Vahradyan noticed, represents the same constellation, mirroring the Zorats Karer site.
In September 2010 Oxford Astrophysicist Mihran Vardanyan led the Oxford University-Royal Geographical Society
joint Expedition Stars & Stones 2010, to check the previous results as well as to produce modern 3d maps and an archeological survey of the site.
Vardanyan claimed the site could be the oldest observatory in the world. He said that stone circles are highly controversial with some scholars highly sceptical of the
astronomical significance of sites such as Karahunj or Stonehenge
in England. “The most commonly accepted
theory about the meaning of Qara Hunge is that it is an ancient burial ground, or necropolis – a place to act as a
bridge between the earth and the heavens in the cyclical journey of the soul involving life, death and rebirth.”
“The necropolis thesis is certainly true, but after our initial investigations of the central circle, it is clear the site
was aligned to the sun, most likely aligned to the moon and – what is really exciting, possibly even some stars or
planets – owing to the placement of small holes drilled through the monoliths and aimed at the horizon. It is
these holes which makes this exceptional megalithic site unique out of all similar European sites.”
on episode 14, titled "Unexplained Structures".
The theme was suggested by Mihran Vardanyan, following the recent discovery of more than 300 exoplanets by NASA’s Kepler
planet-finding satellite in a small patch of sky in the Cygnus constellation, and linking this with Herouni's earlier observations concerning Deneb.
Monstery, cave complexes and a rich collection of petroglyphs, offers opportunities for development of tourism in the region. The development program was also supported by Armenian company Gerezman Solutions. The overall program should cover construction of new roads, parking spaces, toilets , smoking rooms, information banners, lights, audio system, holographic 3d reconstruction of the monument and electronic tourist guides.
Sisian
Sisian formerly also known as Sisakan, Sisavan and later Garakilse, is a city in the southern province of Syunik, Armenia. Located on both banks of Vorotan River, 6 km south of the Yerevan-Meghri highway, at a distance of 217 km from Yerevan and 115 km from Kapan. Sisian forms an urban...
in the Syunik
Syunik
Syunik is the southernmost province of Armenia. It borders the Vayots Dzor marz to the north, Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave to the west, Karabakh to the east, and Iran to the south. Its capital is Kapan. Other important cities and towns include Goris, Sisian, Meghri, Agarak, and Dastakert...
province of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
.
Description
The site is located on a rocky promontory near SisianSisian
Sisian formerly also known as Sisakan, Sisavan and later Garakilse, is a city in the southern province of Syunik, Armenia. Located on both banks of Vorotan River, 6 km south of the Yerevan-Meghri highway, at a distance of 217 km from Yerevan and 115 km from Kapan. Sisian forms an urban...
. About 223 large stone tombs can be found in the area. It was explored by a team of archaeologists from the Institut für Vorderasiatische Archäologie, University of Munich who published their findings in 2000. They concluded that "in contrast to the opinion that Zorakarer may be called an Armenian Stonehenge", Zorats Karer "was mainly a necropolis from the Middle Bronze Age to the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
." The Munich archaeologists add that it may have served "as a place of refuge in times of war", possibly in the Hellenistic - Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
period (c. 300 BC - 300 AD). A wall of rocks and compacted soil (loam
Loam
Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration . Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to till than clay soils...
) was built around the site with vertical rocks plugged into it for reinforcement: today only these upright rocks remain.
About 84 of the stones feature a circular hole, although only about 50 of the stones survive. They have been of interest to Russian and Armenian archaeoastronomists
Archaeoastronomy
Archaeoastronomy is the study of how people in the past "have understood the phenomena in the sky how they used phenomena in the sky and what role the sky played in their cultures." Clive Ruggles argues it is misleading to consider archaeoastronomy to be the study of ancient astronomy, as modern...
who have suggested that the standing stones could have been used for astronomical observation. This suggestion was made by observers who noted four stone holes which could be claimed to be sighted at the point on the horizon where the sun rises on midsummer
Midsummer
Midsummer may simply refer to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, but more often refers to specific European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice, or that take place on a day between June 21 and June 24, and the preceding evening. The exact dates vary between different...
's day. Four others standing stones display holes which observers claimed point where the sun sets on the same day. However, this must remain conjectural as the holes are relatively unweathered and may not even be prehistoric in origin.
In the nearby city of Sisian, there is a small museum dedicated to findings in the area, including palaeolithic petroglyphs found on mountain tops in the area, and grave artefacts form the Bronze Age burial site with over 200 shaft graves.
In 2004 the site was officially named the Karahunj (Carahunge) Observatory, by Parliamentary decree (Government decision No. 1095-n, July 29, 2004).
Research and Expeditions
There have been several research expeditions to study Zorats Karer over several decades. The most extensive research has been carried out by Paris HerouniParis Herouni
Paris M. Herouni is an Armenian professor and scientist, member of National Academy of Sciences of Republic of Armenia in the fields of radio-physics, radio-engineering, and radio-astronomy...
and by Elma Parsamyan of Biurakan Observatory.
According to Herouni, the site was "a temple with a large and developed observatory, and also a university". He thinks that the temple was dedicated to the Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
sun-god Ari. He made a survey of the site and claimed it was 7600–4500 years old.
Herouni has proposed a further hypothesis, that some stones of the monument mirror the biggest star of the Cygnus
Cygnus (constellation)
Cygnus is a northern constellation lying on the plane of the Milky Way. Its name is the Latinized Hellenic word for swan. One of the most recognizable constellations of the northern summer and autumn, it features a prominent asterism known as the Northern Cross...
constellation - Deneb. A stone discovered in Gobekli Tepe
Göbekli Tepe
Göbekli Tepe [ɡøbe̞kli te̞pɛ] is a hilltop sanctuary erected on the highest point of an elongated mountain ridge in southeastern Turkey, some northeast of the town of Şanlıurfa . It is the oldest human-made religious structure yet discovered...
in modern Turkey excavated by German archaeologist Klaus Schmidt, shows the map of the night sky (Cygnus constellation), which in the Karahunj monument, as V. Vahradyan noticed, represents the same constellation, mirroring the Zorats Karer site.
In September 2010 Oxford Astrophysicist Mihran Vardanyan led the Oxford University-Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
joint Expedition Stars & Stones 2010, to check the previous results as well as to produce modern 3d maps and an archeological survey of the site.
Vardanyan claimed the site could be the oldest observatory in the world. He said that stone circles are highly controversial with some scholars highly sceptical of the
astronomical significance of sites such as Karahunj or Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
in England. “The most commonly accepted
theory about the meaning of Qara Hunge is that it is an ancient burial ground, or necropolis – a place to act as a
bridge between the earth and the heavens in the cyclical journey of the soul involving life, death and rebirth.”
“The necropolis thesis is certainly true, but after our initial investigations of the central circle, it is clear the site
was aligned to the sun, most likely aligned to the moon and – what is really exciting, possibly even some stars or
planets – owing to the placement of small holes drilled through the monoliths and aimed at the horizon. It is
these holes which makes this exceptional megalithic site unique out of all similar European sites.”
Depictions in media/ Popular culture
In December, 2010 Zorats Karer was featured on an episode of the History Channel show, Ancient AliensAncient Aliens
Ancient Aliens is an American television series that premiered on April 20, 2010 on the History channel. Produced by Prometheus Entertainment, the program presents theories of ancient astronauts and proposes that historical texts, archaeology and legends contain evidence of past...
on episode 14, titled "Unexplained Structures".
The theme was suggested by Mihran Vardanyan, following the recent discovery of more than 300 exoplanets by NASA’s Kepler
Kepler Mission
The Kepler spacecraft is an American space observatory, the space-based portion of NASA's Kepler Mission to discover Earth-like planets orbiting other stars. The spacecraft is named in honor of the 17th-century German astronomer Johannes Kepler...
planet-finding satellite in a small patch of sky in the Cygnus constellation, and linking this with Herouni's earlier observations concerning Deneb.
Tourism Development
Mihran Vardanyan has suggested that Karahunj, along with TatevTatev
The Monastery of Tatev is a 9th century Armenian monastery located in the Tatev village in Syunik Province in southern Armenia. The term "Tatev" usually refers to the monastery. It stands on a plateau on the edge of the deep gorge of the Orotan River...
Monstery, cave complexes and a rich collection of petroglyphs, offers opportunities for development of tourism in the region. The development program was also supported by Armenian company Gerezman Solutions. The overall program should cover construction of new roads, parking spaces, toilets , smoking rooms, information banners, lights, audio system, holographic 3d reconstruction of the monument and electronic tourist guides.