Archaeological Tour: Pagan Armenia

Early in the morning we will visit the Urartian fortified city of Erebuni and the archaeological museum: the “Passport” of the capital and artifacts from other ancient settlements in Yerevan under one roof. Shengavit Settlement: The most ancient settlement on the territory of Yerevan, excavations of which are still ongoing. After lunch, visit to the National Museum of History of Armenia. Here you can get acquainted with the history of our country from prehistoric times to the present day.

Not far from Yerevan there are cave sites of primitive man Lusakert 1 and 2 dating back to the Middle Paleolithic /250000-35000 BC/. You had already seen the artifacts from Lusakert the day before at the History Museum. Continuing our journey north we will find ourselves in the Karashamba burial ground, which dates from the Middle Bronze Age to the Early Stone Age /2400-900 BC/. Nearby are also a dilapidated medieval church and the remains of a Cyclopean fortress. Further our path lies to the southeast. Here we will have lunch of national dishes, but before the meal we will watch the baking of lavash - traditional Armenian bread, recently included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. On the territory of the Garni Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve we will see a completely restored pagan temple, as well as a royal bathhouse with mosaics, fortress walls and the ruins of a 7th century church.

In the morning we will visit the historical and archaeological museum-reserve Metsamor, which is famous for its Copper Age foundries. In the museum you will see exclusive artifacts, for example, a frog-shaped seal of the Babylonian king Ulam-Burariash made of agate. In the courtyard of the museum you can see the largest collection of stone phalluses - symbols of fertility of the ancient inhabitants of the mountains. Not far from Metsamor there is a citadel of one of the ancient capitals of Armenia - Armavir. Several years ago, archaeologists excavated an Urartian temple on the top of a hill. Not far from the citadel on the hills stand the ruins of the Urartian city of Argishtikhinili, which was founded in 776 BC. After lunch we will visit the ethnographic museum of Sardarapat, the collection of which is one of the richest in Armenia. On the territory of the museum we will also see mysterious dragon stones brought here from the highlands of the country.

Our first stop is at the archaeological complex of Agarak. Here we will see a Bronze Age sanctuary, a winepress carved into the rock and, so far, the only Urartian rock tomb on the territory of Armenia. A little later we will find ourselves in Shamiram and see the ruins of a settlement surrounded by three layers of a fortress wall. On the way, we will not miss one of the largest temples of medieval Armenia - Aruch, after which we will visit the caravanserai, which was recently restored. After lunch we will find ourselves in the village of Kakavadzor, where there is an unexcavated settlement with strangely processed stones, the remains of a pagan temple and rock paintings. And finally, Oshakan awaits us, where we will see the Urartian temple on top of the Didi-Kond hill, as well as the medieval church and tomb of the creator of the Armenian alphabet, Mesrop Mashtots. On the way back we will pass through a medieval bridge on the Kasakh River.

Early in the morning we go to the high-mountainous Lake Sevan. Our mission is to explore archaeological sites on the south coast. First we will visit Lchashen, where we will see the royal tombs, which were excavated in the 1950s after the water level in the lake was reduced by 20 meters. We will also see a Bronze Age fortress and cuneiform writing on a stone of the Urartian king Argishti the First. Continuing our way to the southeast, we will see the Berdkunk fortress, which is 3000 years old. Next awaits us Odzaberd - the Snake Fortress, where the rock cuneiform writing of the Urartian king Rus I is preserved. Next, our path lies to the Vayots Dzor region. On the way through the Vardenis Pass, we will see rock paintings that are 10,000 years old, and will also visit a medieval caravanserai, which stands on the Armenian part of the Great Silk Road. Overnight at a hotel in the village of Germon.

In the morning we will go up to Muradsar on all-terrain vehicles and see one of the largest concentrations of petroglyphs in Armenia. Next we will visit the Bird Cave, where the oldest leather shoe in the world and the remains of the brains of an ancient man were excavated. But the most interesting thing in the cave is the wine-making complex of the Chalcolithic era, which is still the oldest in this region. After lunch we will go to the city of Sisian. Overnight in the city of Sisian.

In the morning we will visit Karahunj - Zorats Karer, a place where, according to some physicists and astronomers, is the oldest observatory in the world, and according to archaeologists - a Bronze Age sanctuary and burial field. Next, on all-terrain vehicles, we will climb to Ukhtasar, where on the shores of mountain lakes we will see hundreds of stones with prehistoric petroglyphs. After lunch we will return to the capital.

Sightseeing bus tour of Yerevan with stops at the David Sassountsi Monument, in the Victory Park at the Mother Armenia monument, which offers a wonderful overview of the entire city. Architectural complex Cascade, Cafesjian Museum of Contemporary Art, Opera House. Time for shopping for souvenirs and local products that are in great demand among guests - wine, cognac, dried fruits, herbs, sweets, gold items, ceramics, etc. To do this, we will visit Vernissage - the souvenir market and Tashir - the market for locally prepared sweets and dried fruits. Airport transfer.