Excavations at Newly Discovered Rock Tomb of Ohanawan

According to the alert received in February 2024, a tomb hollowed out in the rock was discovered as a result of earthworks being carried out in the area owned by a citizen in the Ohanavan community of Aragatsotn region, RA. Since February 14, the expedition of the Scientific Research Centre of Historical and Cultural Heritage (head: Mher Khechoyan) together with the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography (archaeologist: Dianah Mirijanyan) has been conducting excavations on the territory of the newly discovered monument.
Research has shown that the dilapidated and treasure-looted ancient monument is a medieval complex consisting of separate burial chambers, a spacious vestibule, an altar and utility rooms.
Fragments of khachkars and wall crosses were present on the territory. The tetrahedral pedestal of the obelisk with relief images at the entrance to one of the chambers deserves special attention. Two sarcophagus burials were preserved inside the other chamber, the excavations of which were carried out with the participation of the anthropologist Hasmik Simonyan.
As a result of the excavations, many fragments of early medieval ceramics were discovered (among which are very remarkable specimens: lids, lamps, bowls), metal objects, and so on.
The studies of the newly discovered tomb have not yet been completed.