Papers by Hayk A . Gyulamiryan
Aramazd 18, 2024
The paper deals with the earliest period of the foundation of Artaxata-Artashat seen from Hill XI... more The paper deals with the earliest period of the foundation of Artaxata-Artashat seen from Hill XIII in the northeastern part of the Lower City. Archaeological research since 2018 by the Armenian-German Artaxata Project has revealed the early phases of the 2nd century BC city in this area. We describe how the hill with remains of an earlier Urartian settlement was prepared for the new foundation of Artaxias-Artashes I, how a ditch was constructed and Hill XIII integrated into the fortification of the new capital city, and how a public structure was erected on the eastern summit of Hill XIII. The public structure, possibly a sanctuary, was destroyed in the early 1st century BC and in the next phase converted into a domestic area. We will discuss possible reasons why the sanctuary was not rebuilt. In the aftermath of or in the course of the destruction of Artaxata in 59 AD by Corbulo Hill XIII seems to have been abandoned and no longer been part of the Hellenistic capital. In this paper, we also discuss the possible shift in settlement in the subsequent centuries AD and consider possible reasons for this urban transformation.
Metsamorian Readings. Selected scientific articles II, 2024
The Armenian-German Artaxata Project (AGAP) was launched in 2018 and focuses on the study of the ... more The Armenian-German Artaxata Project (AGAP) was launched in 2018 and focuses on the study of the capital of the Artaxiad and Arsacid Armenian kingdom. It is a collaboration between the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Armenian Academy of Sciences and the Institute for Classical Archaeology, University of Münster. The primary area of research is the Lower City of Artaxata. In particular Hill XIII, located at the transition of the Upper City to the Lower City, and the surrounding plain are under investigation. This contribution is the first to present a firmly dated pottery ensemble from Hill XIII. The material presented here can be assigned to the period between 180 and 60 BC and derives from a public building. The chronology of this building and thus of the well-stratified archaeological features is secured by 14C data. The publication of this material is considered a starting point for further typological studies.
Metsamorian readings 2, 2024
The Armenian-German Artaxata Project (AGAP) was launched in 2018 and focuses on the study of the ... more The Armenian-German Artaxata Project (AGAP) was launched in 2018 and focuses on the study of the capital of the Artaxiad and Arsacid Armenian kingdom. It is a collaboration between the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Armenian Academy of Sciences and the Institute for Classical Archaeology, University of Münster. The primary area of research is the Lower City of Artaxata. In particular Hill XIII, located at the transition of the Upper City to the Lower City, and the surrounding plain are under investigation. This contribution is the first to present a firmly dated pottery ensemble from Hill XIII. The material presented here can be assigned to the period between 180 and 60 BC and derives from a public building. The chronology of this building and thus of the well-stratified archaeological features is secured by 14C data. The publication of this material is considered a starting point for further typological studies
Archaeological Research in Asia, 2023
This paper offers an insight into the characteristics of local pottery production and exchange at... more This paper offers an insight into the characteristics of local pottery production and exchange at Artaxata, modern Armenia, from the 2nd century BCE to 1st century CE, drawing from stratigraphic, typological and technological evidence. The pottery assemblage under study derives from the Armenian-German Artaxata Project, a collaboration between the Armenian Academy of Sciences and University of Münster since 2018. The excavation of various structures of Hill XIII and its adjacent plain, with a particular focus on Complexes A and B, reveals a change in the ceramic repertoire. A large proportion of fine ware, notably red-slipped ware of the Eastern Sigillata A (ESA) style and other tableware types, was recovered in the early phase (2nd to 1st century BCE). While these fine ware types continue to be found in the later phase (1st century BCE to 1st century CE), a greater quantity of coarse ware of utilitarian purpose such as storage jars and cooking vessels also appears. A few turquoise glazed vessels that are similar to the Parthian or Mesopotamian style were also recovered, but it is challenging to establish their date as they were mostly found in the topsoil. Such patterning can be explained by the shift in the function of Complexes A and B from serving as public buildings, possibly a sanctuary, during the early phase to domestic houses in the later phase. Despite these changes in the ceramic consumption patterns, this diverse range of ware types was mostly produced locally at Artaxata, based on the results of our technological study of 53 samples using thin-section petrography and scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS). Although they were made locally, different types of fine, coarse and turquoise glazed ware were made in different workshops, each workshop having their own recipes and technologies. In particular, the ESA-styled red-slipped ware was exclusively made in a single workshop over an extended period of time, suggesting a high level of specialisation existed in local pottery production. Such characterisation reflects the status of Artaxata as the capital of the Artaxiad Kingdom, highlighting its ability to control of the production of certain products, especially the ones that are considered to be of high quality and cosmopolitan.
Գիտական Աշխատություններ, 2021
Армяно-Германский проект “Артаксата” (АГАП), задействованный в 2018 г., направлен на многовекторн... more Армяно-Германский проект “Артаксата” (АГАП), задействованный в 2018 г., направлен на многовекторное изучение Арташата – столицы Арташесидской и Аршакидской Армении. Проект осуществляется совместными усилиями Института Археологии и Этнографии НАН РА и Института Классической археологии Мюнстерского университета. Исследования в основном ориентированы на изучение “Нижнего города” Арташата и, в частности, его XIII холма и сопредельной равнины. За прошедшее пятилетие была проведена детальная геофизическая разведка более чем 30 га равнинной территории города, а также раскопаны более 450 кв. м на XIII холме и прилегающей равнине. На холме выявлены три строительных горизонта, относящихся ко второй половине II в. до н. э. – I-II вв. н. э., а в поле – пилоны недостроенного римского акведука начала II в. н. э. На двух последних участках зафиксированы также следы заселения урартского периода. Исследования в рамках проекта будут продолжены и в дальнейшем.
Archaeology of Armenia in Regional Context, 2021
Abstract. Targeted research of individual groups of pottery production is especially important in... more Abstract. Targeted research of individual groups of pottery production is especially important in such monuments as the capital of Ancient Armenia Artashat. Here, an important role is played by the excavations recorded stratigraphic circumstances, so that different fragments of material culture can be considered in a historical context. In the case of Artashat, the presented research is focused mainly on pottery found from the VIII hill, since it was here that a number of construction periods of the monument were carefully recorded, from the time of the city's foundation (180 – 170 BC) until 369 AD. The group of pottery under consideration is richly represented by types ranging from large pithoi to lamps and bowls. The article analyzes the possible syntheses of ceramic products with Western and Eastern traditions, as evidenced by the other types of red polished pottery vessels and terracotta statuettes found from the excavations, which continue to exist with the considered pottery.
Keywords: Armenia, Artashat, Classical period, mass pottery production, dating, historical-cultural context.
Archaeopress Journal, 2018
Հ․ Գյուլամիրյան, ՔԱՐԱՅՐԸ ԻԲՐԵՎ ՀՈՒՂԱՐԿԱՎՈՐՈՒԹՅԱՆ ՏԻՐՈՒՅԹ, «Մեծամորյան ընթերցումներ» I, Գիտական հոդվածների ժողովածու, Երևան, 2017, էջ 259-275, H. Gyulamiryan, Cave As Burial Space, "Metsamorian Readings. I" Selected scientific articles, Yerervan, 2017, pp. 259-275 CAVE AS BURIAL SPACE
Among the number of burial types of Classical Armenia cave burials made in ... more CAVE AS BURIAL SPACE
Among the number of burial types of Classical Armenia cave burials made in the natural
and artificial chambers are of special interest. In the Armenian highlands, the phenomenon of
cave burials is registered from the late Stone Age. Burials in natural caves are examined on
examples of cites of “Areni-1”, “Aghitu-3” and Goris. Particularly, the topic of the article - tomb
of “Aghitu-3” at this moment is the only cave tomb of Classical period known on the nowadays
territory of Armenia.
Certain types of graves in man-made caves are examined in the context of the
phenomenon of “the cave as burial space.” In this frames, the Urartian rock-cut tombs of Van,
the same Urartian columbariums in the RA (Geghovit, Kartjaghbyur, Agarak) and some
medieval ones (Geghard) are examined. These structures are compared with the cave burials of
Naqsh-e Rustam, Persepolis, Myra, Paphos, Thebes, etc.
In the article the phenomenon of cave burials of different periods is examined in parallel
to the elements of ideology of the past, and corresponding mythological and symbolic data
(Mitra-Mher, Artavazd, Amiran, Armenian legends, folklore, etc.).
The study of cave burials is one of innovative vectors of the general research of ancient
burial traditions. The cave was served as a burial space, and was evaluated as “the womb” of
Mother Nature, a sacred space of birth and death.
The Artaxiad capital of ceramic: Exploring the changing local pottery production and exchange at Artaxata (Armenia) from the 2nd century BCE to 1st century CE
Archaeological Research in Asia
This paper offers an insight into the characteristics of local pottery production and exchange at... more This paper offers an insight into the characteristics of local pottery production and exchange at Artaxata, modern Armenia, from the 2nd century BCE to 1st century CE, drawing from stratigraphic, typological and technological evidence. The pottery assemblage under study derives from the Armenian-German Artaxata Project, a collaboration between the Armenian Academy of Sciences and University of Münster since 2018. The excavation of various structures of Hill XIII and its adjacent plain, with a particular focus on Complexes A and B, reveals a change in the ceramic repertoire. A large proportion of fine ware, notably red-slipped ware of the Eastern Sigillata A (ESA) style and other tableware types, was recovered in the early phase (2nd to 1st century BCE). While these fine ware types continue to be found in the later phase (1st century BCE to 1st century CE), a greater quantity of coarse ware of utilitarian purpose such as storage jars and cooking vessels also appears. A few turquoise glazed vessels that are similar to the Parthian or Mesopotamian style were also recovered, but it is challenging to establish their date as they were mostly found in the topsoil. Such patterning can be explained by the shift in the function of Complexes A and B from serving as public buildings, possibly a sanctuary, during the early phase to domestic houses in the later phase. Despite these changes in the ceramic consumption patterns, this diverse range of ware types was mostly produced locally at Artaxata, based on the results of our technological study of 53 samples using thin-section petrography and scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS). Although they were made locally, different types of fine, coarse and turquoise glazed ware were made in different workshops, each workshop having their own recipes and technologies. In particular, the ESA-styled red-slipped ware was exclusively made in a single workshop over an extended period of time, suggesting a high level of specialisation existed in local pottery production. Such characterisation reflects the status of Artaxata as the capital of the Artaxiad Kingdom, highlighting its ability to control of the production of certain products, especially the ones that are considered to be of high quality and cosmopolitan.
Edited Volumes by Hayk A . Gyulamiryan
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Papers by Hayk A . Gyulamiryan
Keywords: Armenia, Artashat, Classical period, mass pottery production, dating, historical-cultural context.
Among the number of burial types of Classical Armenia cave burials made in the natural
and artificial chambers are of special interest. In the Armenian highlands, the phenomenon of
cave burials is registered from the late Stone Age. Burials in natural caves are examined on
examples of cites of “Areni-1”, “Aghitu-3” and Goris. Particularly, the topic of the article - tomb
of “Aghitu-3” at this moment is the only cave tomb of Classical period known on the nowadays
territory of Armenia.
Certain types of graves in man-made caves are examined in the context of the
phenomenon of “the cave as burial space.” In this frames, the Urartian rock-cut tombs of Van,
the same Urartian columbariums in the RA (Geghovit, Kartjaghbyur, Agarak) and some
medieval ones (Geghard) are examined. These structures are compared with the cave burials of
Naqsh-e Rustam, Persepolis, Myra, Paphos, Thebes, etc.
In the article the phenomenon of cave burials of different periods is examined in parallel
to the elements of ideology of the past, and corresponding mythological and symbolic data
(Mitra-Mher, Artavazd, Amiran, Armenian legends, folklore, etc.).
The study of cave burials is one of innovative vectors of the general research of ancient
burial traditions. The cave was served as a burial space, and was evaluated as “the womb” of
Mother Nature, a sacred space of birth and death.
Edited Volumes by Hayk A . Gyulamiryan
Keywords: Armenia, Artashat, Classical period, mass pottery production, dating, historical-cultural context.
Among the number of burial types of Classical Armenia cave burials made in the natural
and artificial chambers are of special interest. In the Armenian highlands, the phenomenon of
cave burials is registered from the late Stone Age. Burials in natural caves are examined on
examples of cites of “Areni-1”, “Aghitu-3” and Goris. Particularly, the topic of the article - tomb
of “Aghitu-3” at this moment is the only cave tomb of Classical period known on the nowadays
territory of Armenia.
Certain types of graves in man-made caves are examined in the context of the
phenomenon of “the cave as burial space.” In this frames, the Urartian rock-cut tombs of Van,
the same Urartian columbariums in the RA (Geghovit, Kartjaghbyur, Agarak) and some
medieval ones (Geghard) are examined. These structures are compared with the cave burials of
Naqsh-e Rustam, Persepolis, Myra, Paphos, Thebes, etc.
In the article the phenomenon of cave burials of different periods is examined in parallel
to the elements of ideology of the past, and corresponding mythological and symbolic data
(Mitra-Mher, Artavazd, Amiran, Armenian legends, folklore, etc.).
The study of cave burials is one of innovative vectors of the general research of ancient
burial traditions. The cave was served as a burial space, and was evaluated as “the womb” of
Mother Nature, a sacred space of birth and death.