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Armenian Studies at the Sharp Edge: Diplomacy in Preserving Armenian Archaeology
Armenian Studies at the Sharp Edge
Diplomacy in Preserving Armenian Archaeology
By Andy Turpin
WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)—On Nov. 29, Ara Sarafian, founding director of the Gomidas Institute in London, presented a talk on the works of the institute and the current politics of Armenian monument preservation in Eastern Turkey. The Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA) hosted the event.
Sarafian founded the institute in 2000. “It was a one off [at first]. People were writing books [on Armenian subjects] and couldn’t have them published,” he said.
“Everyone talks about the genocide, but no primary sources were available.”
Since then, however, the institute “has become a single location in London. We have a core group of scholars and we can network. We produce primary publications but we are now producing Armenian academic projects.”
He explained, “One of our projects is to survey what’s left of Armenian culture in Turkey in the eastern provinces. We’re working on a study of Armenian monasteries within 25 miles of Ahktamar Island.” This project would allow Armenian archaeologists to help dictate excavation and restoration needs to the Turkish government in the future.
Sarafian said of the Kharpert plain at present, “The old town is being made very tourist friendly. If you went there today you would think it had been an Islamic city.”
He stressed the importance of these Armenian restoration efforts, saying, “If we don’t do this, we’re going to be written out of history as Turkish nationalism dictates.”
Sarafian then turned to speak about the recent publication by the Gomidas Institute of the diaries and novels of Vahram Dadrian, a child survivor of the genocide who went on to become an Armenian novelist.
He said of Dadrian and his work, “He was the Anne Frank of the Armenian genocide. His diary is a critical volume of utmost importance, because it’s a primary source document from a schoolboy perspective.”
“A novel allows you to take facts and figures and put them into a more interesting story. It allowed him to take license, but depict the emotional side of the genocide that is often lacking” from dispatch or diplomatic records, he said.
Sarafian then spoke about his visits to Eastern Turkey to document and assess the state of Armenian monuments, saying of those Turks he interacted with, “Many Turks themselves are purely ignorant of Armenian history in Turkey itself. If you were to talk to these people, many of the barriers are able to come down.”
He stressed that in the struggle to preserve Armenian monuments in Anatolia, “Our priority has to be to win over Turkish hearts and minds. We [the global Armenian community] have more support and more cumulative information than ever before.”
Sarafian then showed a short documentary film, “Kolagugh,” illustrating a recent trip to the Kharpert plain. Exploring in the film the dilapidated ruin of St. Kevork’s monastery, Sarafian states critically, “Why aren’t our clergymen here? Isn’t it their job to look after this? My mind is utterly blank- because the site is obviously Christian. Block it off or something.”
Following the film, Sarafian said of Gomidas’ desired projects in the region, “It is possible to go back today to what I call these ‘orphan monuments.’”
Sarafian emphasized though, that hardliner approaches could only be detrimental at this juncture in regards to saving Armenian archeological sites from extinction. He stated, “Of course, you can always blame the Turkish authorities, but we [Armenians] can always play a role in policies.”
He continued, “The monuments are accessible [to visit]. It is within our grasp. This is the kind of work I would advocate today.”
Sarafian stated, “We are the weaker party here. We have to be smart. There’s a lot more that can be done today. The longer we wait, the more we lose. We have to get in before road construction begins in these areas and we lose even geographic markers.”
During the question and answer session that followed Sarafian’s presentation, an audience member suggested Armenian Diaspora members buying the sites of Armenian monuments to restore.
Sarafian commented on this as a remote option, explaining, “It’s possible to buy them, but as foreigners the sale would be subject to approval by the Turkish military.”
He noted, “The point is to do surveys in a systematic manner with specialists who know the archeology. But we can’t say what will still be standing in 5 years. They’re chipping away at our history.”
Sarafian was asked his opinion on the recent controversy surrounding the Turkish renovation and restoration of Ahktamar, but upon the condition that no stone cross be placed upon the structure and that it become a museum, in place of the former functioning church role it occupied antebellum.
He maintained, “Let it be a museum—but let them [the Turks] preserve it. Preservation needs to be our priority now. I don’t think [rallying against this Turkish restoration condition] is a prudent battle to be fought right now.”
Sarafian explained himself, saying, “Turkish nationalists are always looking for excuses to destroy our culture. They are still Turkish fascists, but Armenians are the weaker party and if they [the Turks] did nothing, Ahktamar church would have collapsed.”
Regarding Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and his AKP party, Sarafian noted, “An Islamist government might be more open to dialogue than a secular fascist one.”
He said of Turkey’s motivations in restoring sites like Ahktamar, “The government is smart enough to realize they can’t deny history. What we have here is tokenism. They renovate one church, not all of them.”
Sarafian ended stressing, the need for increased dialogue with the Turks in working to survey and restore Armenian monument sites in the region, stating, “It’s important to go to Turkey and engage them, because they have become the custodians of our history.”
Diplomacy in Preserving Armenian Archaeology
By Andy Turpin
WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)—On Nov. 29, Ara Sarafian, founding director of the Gomidas Institute in London, presented a talk on the works of the institute and the current politics of Armenian monument preservation in Eastern Turkey. The Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA) hosted the event.
Sarafian founded the institute in 2000. “It was a one off [at first]. People were writing books [on Armenian subjects] and couldn’t have them published,” he said.
“Everyone talks about the genocide, but no primary sources were available.”
Since then, however, the institute “has become a single location in London. We have a core group of scholars and we can network. We produce primary publications but we are now producing Armenian academic projects.”
He explained, “One of our projects is to survey what’s left of Armenian culture in Turkey in the eastern provinces. We’re working on a study of Armenian monasteries within 25 miles of Ahktamar Island.” This project would allow Armenian archaeologists to help dictate excavation and restoration needs to the Turkish government in the future.
Sarafian said of the Kharpert plain at present, “The old town is being made very tourist friendly. If you went there today you would think it had been an Islamic city.”
He stressed the importance of these Armenian restoration efforts, saying, “If we don’t do this, we’re going to be written out of history as Turkish nationalism dictates.”
Sarafian then turned to speak about the recent publication by the Gomidas Institute of the diaries and novels of Vahram Dadrian, a child survivor of the genocide who went on to become an Armenian novelist.
He said of Dadrian and his work, “He was the Anne Frank of the Armenian genocide. His diary is a critical volume of utmost importance, because it’s a primary source document from a schoolboy perspective.”
“A novel allows you to take facts and figures and put them into a more interesting story. It allowed him to take license, but depict the emotional side of the genocide that is often lacking” from dispatch or diplomatic records, he said.
Sarafian then spoke about his visits to Eastern Turkey to document and assess the state of Armenian monuments, saying of those Turks he interacted with, “Many Turks themselves are purely ignorant of Armenian history in Turkey itself. If you were to talk to these people, many of the barriers are able to come down.”
He stressed that in the struggle to preserve Armenian monuments in Anatolia, “Our priority has to be to win over Turkish hearts and minds. We [the global Armenian community] have more support and more cumulative information than ever before.”
Sarafian then showed a short documentary film, “Kolagugh,” illustrating a recent trip to the Kharpert plain. Exploring in the film the dilapidated ruin of St. Kevork’s monastery, Sarafian states critically, “Why aren’t our clergymen here? Isn’t it their job to look after this? My mind is utterly blank- because the site is obviously Christian. Block it off or something.”
Following the film, Sarafian said of Gomidas’ desired projects in the region, “It is possible to go back today to what I call these ‘orphan monuments.’”
Sarafian emphasized though, that hardliner approaches could only be detrimental at this juncture in regards to saving Armenian archeological sites from extinction. He stated, “Of course, you can always blame the Turkish authorities, but we [Armenians] can always play a role in policies.”
He continued, “The monuments are accessible [to visit]. It is within our grasp. This is the kind of work I would advocate today.”
Sarafian stated, “We are the weaker party here. We have to be smart. There’s a lot more that can be done today. The longer we wait, the more we lose. We have to get in before road construction begins in these areas and we lose even geographic markers.”
During the question and answer session that followed Sarafian’s presentation, an audience member suggested Armenian Diaspora members buying the sites of Armenian monuments to restore.
Sarafian commented on this as a remote option, explaining, “It’s possible to buy them, but as foreigners the sale would be subject to approval by the Turkish military.”
He noted, “The point is to do surveys in a systematic manner with specialists who know the archeology. But we can’t say what will still be standing in 5 years. They’re chipping away at our history.”
Sarafian was asked his opinion on the recent controversy surrounding the Turkish renovation and restoration of Ahktamar, but upon the condition that no stone cross be placed upon the structure and that it become a museum, in place of the former functioning church role it occupied antebellum.
He maintained, “Let it be a museum—but let them [the Turks] preserve it. Preservation needs to be our priority now. I don’t think [rallying against this Turkish restoration condition] is a prudent battle to be fought right now.”
Sarafian explained himself, saying, “Turkish nationalists are always looking for excuses to destroy our culture. They are still Turkish fascists, but Armenians are the weaker party and if they [the Turks] did nothing, Ahktamar church would have collapsed.”
Regarding Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and his AKP party, Sarafian noted, “An Islamist government might be more open to dialogue than a secular fascist one.”
He said of Turkey’s motivations in restoring sites like Ahktamar, “The government is smart enough to realize they can’t deny history. What we have here is tokenism. They renovate one church, not all of them.”
Sarafian ended stressing, the need for increased dialogue with the Turks in working to survey and restore Armenian monument sites in the region, stating, “It’s important to go to Turkey and engage them, because they have become the custodians of our history.”
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