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ARMENIAN EPIC HERO'S GRAVE AND OLDEST HORSE BURIAL PLACE FOUND IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
Eva Sahakyan
YerevanReport.com
Sept 7 2010
Armenia
YEREVAN, September 7-Armenian archeologists discovered an ancient
burial place of a horse during archeological excavations on the
territory of the Republic of Armenia. Hakob Simonian, the director
of the Research Center of Cultural and Historical Heritage, told the
journalists about this.
According to him, the excavations were found in the Nerkin Naver
necropolis, which is 3.5 km to the west of Ashtarak.
"This find dates back to the 26-25th centuries BC, and it's the
oldest burial place of a horse discovered to this day. It has an
all-important significance not only for Armenia, but for the whole
Western Asia as well," Simonian said.
The archeological find testifies that Armenians used horses for
military purposes. Simonian mentioned that horse is the animal that
defined the development of humanity, and its domestication can be
associated with the establishment of civilization.
During the excavations in Nerkin Naver, the Armenian archeologists
discovered another burial place that resembles the grave of one of
the heroes of the famous Armenian national epic poem Sasuntsi David
("David of Sassoon").
Simonian says that the burial place is surprisingly rich, proper only
for heroes. A lion claw was found under the head of the buried man,
and according to the epic poem, a lion skin was put under Lion-Mher's
(Aryudz Mher) head. According to Simonian, this find can imply that
the epic poem has a real-life basis.
"Expensive arms were also found in the burial place, a valuable saber
among them, which is indeed a rarity. One more time this emphasizes
the fact that the buried man wasn't an ordinary man," Simonian added.
The Nerkin Naver necropolis counts 30 burial places. Seven burial
places have already been examined and the excavations of the 8th one
are being carried out.
Eva Sahakyan
YerevanReport.com
Sept 7 2010
Armenia
YEREVAN, September 7-Armenian archeologists discovered an ancient
burial place of a horse during archeological excavations on the
territory of the Republic of Armenia. Hakob Simonian, the director
of the Research Center of Cultural and Historical Heritage, told the
journalists about this.
According to him, the excavations were found in the Nerkin Naver
necropolis, which is 3.5 km to the west of Ashtarak.
"This find dates back to the 26-25th centuries BC, and it's the
oldest burial place of a horse discovered to this day. It has an
all-important significance not only for Armenia, but for the whole
Western Asia as well," Simonian said.
The archeological find testifies that Armenians used horses for
military purposes. Simonian mentioned that horse is the animal that
defined the development of humanity, and its domestication can be
associated with the establishment of civilization.
During the excavations in Nerkin Naver, the Armenian archeologists
discovered another burial place that resembles the grave of one of
the heroes of the famous Armenian national epic poem Sasuntsi David
("David of Sassoon").
Simonian says that the burial place is surprisingly rich, proper only
for heroes. A lion claw was found under the head of the buried man,
and according to the epic poem, a lion skin was put under Lion-Mher's
(Aryudz Mher) head. According to Simonian, this find can imply that
the epic poem has a real-life basis.
"Expensive arms were also found in the burial place, a valuable saber
among them, which is indeed a rarity. One more time this emphasizes
the fact that the buried man wasn't an ordinary man," Simonian added.
The Nerkin Naver necropolis counts 30 burial places. Seven burial
places have already been examined and the excavations of the 8th one
are being carried out.
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