The importance of armenian gold for cultural development in Bronze Age Caucasia

• Applicant: Dr. René Kunze
• Subject Area: Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 410373002

The concept of the project consists in the comprehensive reconstruction of the early use of gold in Armenia and its significance for ancient Near Eastern Cultures. The combination of archaeometallurgical and archaeological research constitutes the project basis. The chemical analysis of prehistoric gold objects from stratigraphically sites is a precondition for determining the potential of the Armenian gold deposits in the Sotk region (Gegharkunik) and their use in prehistoric periods. The cooperation with armenian institutions made it possible, for the first time, to sample gold objects from several sites of different Bronze Age periods and to investigate them scientifically with established analytical methods.Furthermore, an accompanying systematic research of the surrounding microregion (Artanish peninsula) is indispensable in order to clarify not only the question of gold use and processing in the working area, but above all the organization of the prehistoric infrastructure of the Near East (extraction-processing-trade-exchange). The area in the closer and wider surroundings of the gold deposits in the Gegharkunik region (Sotk and Artanish) has optimal natural prerequisites. The archaeological fieldwork already carried out has yielded important results for a reconstruction of the settlement system and insight into the social and settlement structure of the area. The aim here is to work out the exact spatial and functional relations of the gold deposits to the prehistoric settlements and transport routes. At the end of the work, the evaluation should clarify whether the society of this region was able to produce gold and distribute it to neighboring regions of the Caucasus (Northwest Iran, Mesopotamia, Eastern Turkey).The research project, funded since the end of 2019 by the DFG, was accompanied by the spread of the Sars-CoV-2 virus and political conflicts between Armenia and neighboring Azerbaijan. This led to a delay in the work, especially in 2020. The described situation and the excellent results of the previous investigations require an extension of the project. On the one hand, to be able to finish the already approved sampling and subsequent investigation of the object gold. On the other hand, to carry out an urgently needed third excavation campaign. Only in this way a concrete statement on the above-mentioned goals and questions can be formulated at the end of the project.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Armenia
• Cooperation Partners: Privatdozent Dr. Arsen Bobokhyan; Privatdozent Dr. Ashavir Hovhanissyan