Metsamor Historical and Archaeological Reserve -Museum



The ancient fortress-settlement of Metsamor is one of the unique monuments of world culture. It is located 35 km southwest of Yerevan, not far from the village of Taronik, on the banks of the Metsamor River.




From 1965 until now, Metsamor is regularly excavated. The excavated cultural layers refer to the Bronze and Iron periods.




Excavated materials prove that Metsamor was a flourishing center of culture in the Bronze Age (IV-II millennia BC). The entire system of the copper smelter, the smelter, and the furnaces, built into the rocks, is well preserved. Scientists have found out that Metsamor was a large settlement, which occupied an area of ​​10.5 hectares, had a citadel surrounded by a cyclopean wall, a ziggurat - "observatory".



Metsamor was a city in the Early Iron Age (XI-IX centuries BC). The citadel, "observatory" and residential quarters occupied an area of ​​about 100 hectares. Palace buildings, a temple complex with seven sanctuaries, and industrial complexes were concentrated in the castle. Huge tombs ringed with red tufa cromlechs were excavated in the burial ground extending 0.5 km northeast of the citadel. 



Glazed pottery, carved wooden jewelry boxes, luxury objects made of gold, silver, and semi-precious stones, and paste are noteworthy among the objects buried in the tombs.

Among the most notable finds are the agate frog-scale of the Babylonian king Ulam Burariash (16th century BC) and a sardonyx seal with Egyptian hieroglyphic text belonging to another Babylonian ruler Kurigalzu (15th century BC). These finds prove that since ancient times Metsamor has been a crossroad of trade routes that passed through the Ararat Valley and connected Central Asia and the North Caucasus.

In the Early Iron Age, Metsamor was one of the royal cities of the Ararat valley, one of the important administrative, political and cultural centers.

 In the VIII century BC Metsamor entered the Kingdom of Van (Urartu). Life continued here in the Middle Ages until the 17th century. The best proofs of this are found buildings, plain and glazed pottery, objects of luxury.



Metsamor Historical and Archaeological Reserve -Museum was opened in 1968. More than 27,000 objects excavated from the monument have been collected and displayed here. The first floor displays materials found in the castle and burial ground, dating from the Early Bronze Age to the Late Middle Ages. On the second floor, the ancient Metsamor crafts and rituals are presented. On the basement floor, there is a special storage room, where unique cultural values ​​made of gold, silver, semi-precious stones, and paste from the region of Van Kingdom are presented.


For more information:

https://hushardzan.am/en/preservations/metsamor-historical-archeological-museum-reserve

https://onewaytour.com/sights-of-armenia/historical-archaelogical-museum-reserve-metsamor/

Location: 45GP+GPF Taronik, Armenia

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