Urartian crypt uncovered in Armenia’s Gavar (photos)

Recent excavations in Gavar (Gegharkunik) led to the discovery of a Urartian crypt dating from the 7th century.

The items, dug out by from a grave, will enrich the collection of ancient artifacts showcased at the open-air exhibition in Metsamor (Armavir region), Ashot Piliposyan, a scientific director at the Service for the Protection of Historical Environment and Cultural Reservations, told reporters on Monday,

“These are probably [remnants of] a high-ranking person’s group burial,” he said, adding that an anthoropologist identified four male and one female skeleton.

"One of the men was apparently a high-ranking individual, a leader. Hence, since the 7th century BC, the basin of Lake Sevan had an important role in the economic and political life of the Kingdom of Van.”

The spear and sword debris and the agate beads uncovered by archaeologists will add to the scripts tracing their history to the same period, Philiposyan noted.

The archaeologist said he knows also of other Urartian crypts in different villages of the region.

He added that they uncovered also golden and agate chains during excavations in Metsamor. The archaeologist highlighted the historical value of the area which he said laid the foundation of a town in the pre-Urartian period (12th-10th centuries BC).