(armrockart.nt.am) Our
ancestors' rock-carving endeavors have spanned the period
between the
7th and
1st Millennia BC, as attested by historical-cultural
comparisons. In one of fundamental problems of Rock-Art
researches
(Petroglyphology),
their dating, we attach importance to complex materialogical -
traceological, cosmological and mythological studies, and in general,
all types of complex approaches. We believe that the classification of
available material is a prerequisite for the development of this branch
of science. This can be done through nearly 365 parameters and
properties, grouped in six categories: monument, rock,
surface, furrow, image, clusters.
The
most significant elements of mentality and existence of prehistoric man
have been reflected in artifacts, which in prehistoric/pre-script times
involved Rock-Art as well. As a specific form of expression of emotions
and information, rock-carvings represent a medium of communication. And
if back then Rock-Art possessed recording, storage and conveying
functions, for us now it has aesthetic and cognitive
functions. These are the bases that allow us to designate petroglyphs as
reliable sources, and, therefore, means of revealing the past.
In
considering Rock-Art we put it in historical-archaeological culture
context, and try to define and determine the Rock-Art tradition
and Rock-Art culture. Attaining this aim is possible only through
a classification which takes into account the influence of almost all
known natural and human factors, beginning from the formation of
rock-fragments through to engraving and up to our days. We believe that
due to such theoretical and practical classification we will be able to
reveal the meaning, role and function of each rock-carving, each group
of rock-images and, finally, of Rock-Art in general.
Rock-Art of Armenia was mentioned for the first time by
Movses
Khorenatsi, the founder of Armenian historiography (5th ce.
AD), followed by Anania Shirakatsi,
Armenian philosopher, astronomer and mathematician (7th ce. AD).
Although rock-carvings were discovered as early as in the beginning of
the 20th century (Mesrovb Ter-Movsessyan, 1902,
Levon Lisitsyan, 1972,
Ashkharhbek Kalantar,
1935), real academic
work has only been undertaken since the early 1960s. Thus
far, it has been primarily Armenian archaeologists (Haroutyun
Martirossyan, Sandro Sardaryan,
Grigor Karakhanyan and others) who have published four volumes of their studies (with 1320 images of rock-carvings)
on the subject in association with the Institute of
Archaeology and Ethnography of Academy of Sciences of Armenia. This area of research is currently coordinated by the
Institute of History and by the “Armenian Rock Art Research Academy –
Tir”.
The
Republic of Armenia (RA), which comprises one tenth of the territory of the Armenian Highland,
has a plenitude of rock-carvings. Five large Rock-Art areas
are well known and nearly 20 thousand carved rock-pieces have been
discovered so far. 12000 of these are located in the vicinity of the Geghama
and Vardenis Mountain Ranges (2500-3200 m above sea level) and
more than 6000 in the Syunik Mountains
(3000-3400 m) in the south of RA. Another 2000 have been found on the slopes of
Aragats
(1100-3000 m), the highest peak of RA (4094 m) and on the slopes of Navasar, near the second peak of RA
-- Kaputjugh (3904 m). There are also
hundreds of rock-carvings in the Qarvachar Region of Artsakh.
A
great number of rock-carvings has been found in Western
Armenian
provinces in modern Turkey and in the Kobustan area of Azerbaijan. All
of the carvings located in Azerbaijan and eastern Turkey are similar in
subject, style and technique to those in RA, and similar to those
presented here (Photos) which are all from the Geghama Mountains.
Almost
all aspects of human life are reflected in Rock-Art. Most images depict
men in scenes of hunting and fighting, cultivating land,
competing and dancing. Different animals, especially goats, deer and
panthers,
as
well as the
mythological creatures – “vishaps” (dragon-like steles) are
pictured. Some rock-images reflect the adoration of maternity, the
ancestors, heroes, spirits, fertility and time. Geographic
elements are also featured: rivers, lakes, springs etc., followed by
astronomical bodies and phenomena: the Sun, the Moon, stars, stellar
constellations and starry sky, bolide, comet, and lightning. There are
many images of carriages and various structures, maps, water-grids,
starry sky, as well as carved compasses, solar and lunar calendars.
Like
rock art monuments elsewhere in the world, the petroglyphs of
Armenia, by their great number, styles and diverse content,
occupy a unique place in our cultural heritage from the ancient world.
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