Reinforcement of Medieval infrastructure
Medieval castles and caravanserais in Aruch and Dashtadem along the Dvin-Ani transit route
Keywords:
Medieval archaeology, Silk Road, Armenia, Aragatsotn region, Aruch, Dashtadem, town, castle, caravanseraiAbstract
In the article the discussion centres on how the infrastructure along one of the transit routes of the Silk Road connecting the Armenian major city of Dvin and the capital city of Ani was organized and furnished during the high medieval period. The targeted area (a part of the historical region (gavaṛ)Aragatsotn), located between the Ararat plain and Shirak plateau, served as a transit zone for millennia. The persistent intention of the reigning Zakarid Principality to improve the infrastructure during the high medieval period is evidenced in literary, epigraphic, and numismatic sources and is clearly visible in the landscape, particularly in the construction of caravanserais, bridges, and castles that overlook the routes. The core of this paper is based on the results of excavations carried out in Aruch and Dashtadem castles, both of which are located near the caravanserais built along the transit road and share the same architectural features typical to the ones of the 12-13th centuries.
References
Acharyan, H. 1971. Hayereni armatakan baṛaran (Root Dictionary of Armenian), vol. 1. Yerevan: Yerevani hamalsarani hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Acharyan, H. 1977. Hayereni armatakan baṛaran (Root Dictionary of Armenian), vol. 3. Yerevan: Yerevani hamalsarani hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Arakelyan, B.N.1958. Kʽałakʽnerə ev arhestnerə Hayastanum IX-XIII darerum (Cities and Crafts in Armenia in the 9th–13th Centuries), vol. 1. Yerevan: HSSH GA hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Arakelyan, B.N. 1964. Kʽałakʽnerə ev arhestnerə Hayastanum IX-XIII darerum (Cities and Crafts in Armenia in the 9th–13th Centuries), vol. 2. Yerevan: HSSH GA hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Areshyan, G., Sadoyan, B. 1981. Hašvetvutʽyun Erevani petakan hamalsarani Šamirami hnagitakan aršavaxmbi 1980 tʽ. əntʽacʽkʽum katarac pełumneri (Report on the Excavations Carried out by the Shamiram Archaeological Expedition of Yerevan State University in 1980). Yerevan: Erevani hamalsarani hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Areshyan, G., Ohanyan, H., Sadoyan, B. 1982. Hašvetvutʽyun hayagitakan hetazotutʽyunneri kentroni 1981 tʽ. əntʽacʽkʽum katarac pełumneri masin (Report on the Excavations Carried out by the Center of Reasearches of Armenian Studies in 1981). Yerevan: Erevani hamalsarani hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Asatryan, Y. 2004. Tʽalini šrǰani hušarjannerə (The Monuments of the Talin Region). Yerevan: Hušarjan (in Armenian).
Asatryan, Y. 2005. Zak‘ari berd (Pełumneri ardyunk‘nerǝ) /(Zakari Berd (The Results of Excavations)/). Hnagitakan pełumnerǝ Hayastanum 19 (Archaeological Excavations in Armenia 19). Yerevan: HH GAA ‘Gitut‘yun’ hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Augé, I., Baladian, A.T., Dangles, Ph. 2020. À l’est d’Ani: Forteresses et églises inédites du nord de l’Arménie (Mémoires de l’Académie. Des inscriptions et belles-lettres. Tome 57). Paris: Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres.
Avagyan, S. 1978. Vimakan arjanagrutʽyunneri baṛakʽnnutʽyun (Word Examination of the Epigraphs). Yerevan: Yerevani hamalsarani hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Avetisyan, P.S., Bobokhyan, A.A. (eds) 2021. Archaeology of Armenia in Regional Context. Proceedings of the International Conference Dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography. Yerevan: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography Press.
Babajanyan, A., Zaqyan, A. 2014. Selimi kʽaravanatan pełumneri naxnakan ardyunkʽnerə (Preliminary results of excavations of the Selim caravanserai). VEM 4(48): 125-134 (in Armenian).
Babajanyan, A., Franklin, K. 2018. Everyday life on the medieval Silk Road: VDSRS excavations at Arpa, Armenia. AJNES 12/1: 154-182.
Babajanyan, A., Aghaian, S., Davtyan, D., Melkonyan, H. 2021. A view on life in the medieval fortress at Dashtadem: Results of the 2015 and 2018 excavation campaigns, in: Avetisyan, Bobokhyan 2021: 373-395.
Babajanyan, A., Ferdinandi, S. 2023. Aruči miǰnadaryan dłyaki ev tačarakan hamaliri pełumnerə (Excavations of the medieval castle and Cathedral complex in Aruch). DHAA 2022: 64-95 (in Armenian).
Babajanyan, A., Aghaian, S. 2022. Daštademi miǰnadaryan dłyaki čartarapetutʽyunə (Architecture of the medieval castle of Dashtadem). LHG 2(665): 268-286 (in Armenian).
Barkhudaryan, S. 1967. Divan hay vimagrutʽyan. Vayoc‘ jor. Ełegnajori ev Azizbekovi šrǰanner (Corpus inscriptionum armenicarum. Vayots Dzor. Regions of Yeghegnadzor and Aziozbekov), liber 3. Yerevan: HSSH GA hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Barkhudaryan, S. 2017. Divan hay vimagrutʽyan. Širak (Corpus inscriptionum armenicarum: Shirak region), liber 10. Yerevan: HH GAA ‘Gitut‘yun’ hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Barkhudaryan, S., Ghafadaryan, K., Saghumyan, S. 2012. Divan hay vimagrutʽyan. Loṛi (Corpus inscriptionum armenicarum: Lori region), liber 9. Yerevan: HH GAA ‘Gitut‘yun’ hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Bartikyan, H. 1992. Bagratunyac‘ Hayastani arhestnericʽ. šalakavor – beṛnakir, tʽe bankir (On the crafts of Bagratid Armenia. Shalakavor – porter or banker). PBH 2-3(135-136): 153-159 (in Armenian).
Dangles, Ph. 2014. Mahasberd retrouvée, in: Mardirossian et al. 2014: 205-220.
Dangles, Ph. 2015. Aruč. Le site fortifié, in: Hakobyan, Mikaelyan 2015: 222-231.
Dangles, Ph., Prouteau, N. 2005-2007. Observations sur quelques fortresses de la région d’Ani. RÉA 30: 273-299.
De Nicola, B., Kinloch, M. 2021. Medieval Worlds: Urban Agencies. Reframing Anatolian and Caucasian Cities (13th-14th Centuries), vol. 14. Vienna: Austrian Academy of Sciences Press.
Franklin, K. 2021. Everyday Cosmopolitanism. Living the Silk Road in Medieval Armenia. Oakland: University of California Press.
Franklin, K., Vorderstrasse, T., Babayan, F. 2017. Examining the Late Medieval Village from the Case at Ambroyi, Armenia. JNES 76/1: 113-138.
Galchean, R. 2005. Hayastanə hamašxarhayin kʽartezagrutʽyan meǰ (Armenia in the World Cartography). Yerevan Printinfo (in Armenian).
Gasparyan, R. 1991. Tʽalini šrǰani Surb Kʽristapʽori vankʽi ev Mastarayi norahayt vimakan arjanagrutʽyunnerə (The newfound inscriptions at S. Kristapor monastery and in Mastara in Talin region). DHAA 1989-1990: 125-127 (in Armenian).
Ghazar Parpetsi 1982. Hayocʽ patmutʽyun. Tʽułtʽ aṛ Vahan Mamikonean (History of Armenians. Paper to Vahan Mamikonean). Translation and notes by B. Ulubabyan. Yerevan: Yerevani hamalsarani hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Ghevond 1982. Patmutʽyun (History). Translation, preface and notes by A. Ter- Ghevondyan. Yerevan: Sovetakan groł (in Armenian).
Grigoryan, G. 2012. Hayastani vał miǰnadaryan kʽaṛakoł kotʽołnerə (Early Medieval Four-Faceted Stelas in Armenia). Yerevan: History Museum of Armenia (in Armenian).
Hakobyan, Z., Mikaelyan, L. (eds) 2015. Antaṛ Cnndocʽ (Genesis Forest). Collection of articles in memory of F. Ter-Martirosov. Yerevan: Yerevan State University Press.
Harutyunyan, S.V. 1978. Anberd. Yerevan: HSSH GA hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Harutyunyan, V.M. 1960. Miǰnadaryan Hayastani kʽaravanatnernn u kamurǰnerə (Caravanserais and Bridges of Medieval Armenia). Yerevan: HayPetHrat (in Armenian).
Hasratyan, M. (ed.) 2002. Haykakan čartarapetutʽyan patmutʽyun (History of Armenian Architecture), vol. 2. Yerevan: HH GAA ‘Gitut‘yun’ hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Hasratyan, M. (ed.) 2004. Haykakan čartarapetutʽyan patmutʽyun (History of Armenian Architecture), vol. 3. Yerevan: HH GAA ‘Gitut‘yun’ hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Hovhannes Draskhanakertsi 1996. Hovhannes Drasxanakertcʽu Hayocʽ patmutʽyunə (Armenians History of the catholicos Hovhannes of Draskhanakert). Translation and notes by G.B. Tosunyan. Yerevan: Yerevani hamalsarani hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Hovhannisyan, H. 2016. Sylloge Nummorum Byzantinorum, Anonymous folles, Class A, vol. 3. Yerevan: History Museum of Armenia.
Kalantaryan, A., Karakhanyan, G., Melkonyan, H., Petrosyan, H., Hakobyan, N., Babayan, F., Zhamkochyan, A., Nawasardyan, K., Hayrapetyan, A. 2009. Armenia in the Cultural Context of East and West. Ceramics and Glass (4th- 14th centuries). Yerevan: HH GAA ‘Gitut‘yun’ hratarakč‘ut‘yun.
Karapetyan, S., Mahé, J.P. 2015. The Hoṛomos inscriptions, in: Vardanyan 2015: 361-493.
Kirakosyan, L. 1991. Koši vałmiǰnadaryan dłyakə (The early medieval castle of Kosh). DHAA 1989-1990: 107-108 (in Armenian).
Khalpakhchyan, H. 1971. Graždanskoe zodčestvo Armenii (žilye i obščestvennye zdanija) /(Civic Architecture of Armenia (Residential and Public buildings)/). Moscow: Strojizdat (in Russian).
Khachatryan, A. 1987. Korpus Arabskix nadpisej Armenii (VIII-XVI vv.) /(Corpus of the Arabic Inscriptions of Armenia (8th-16th centuries)/), vol. 1. Yerevan: Izdatel’stvo AN Arm. SSR (in Russian).
Khachatryan, H. 2017. Axuryani avazani miǰnadaryan amrašinakan kaṛuycʽnerə (Medieval fortifications of the Akhuryan River basin). Shiraki Hayagitakan Hetazotut‘yunneri Kentron: Gitakan ašxatutʽyunner (Shirak Center for Armenological Studies: Scientific Works) 20: 206-215 (in Armenian).
Kostaneants, K. 1913. Vimakan taregir. Cʽucʽak žołovacoy arjanagrutʽeancʽ hayocʽ (Annals of Epigraphy: Collection-Manual of the Armenian Inscriptions). S. Petersburg: Gitut‘yunneri kayserakan akademiayi tparan (in Armenian).
Manandyan, H. 1954. O torgovle i gorodax Armenii v svjazi s mirivoj torgovlej drevnix vremen (V v. do n.é. – XV v. n.é.) /(On Trade and Cities of Armenia in the Connections of World Trade of Ancient Times (BC 5th Century BC – 15th Century AD)/). Yerevan: Izdatel’stvo Erevanskogo universiteta (in Russian).
Manucharyan, A.A. 1977. Kʽnnutʽyun Hayastani IV-XI dareri šinararakan vkayagreri (Examination of the 4th-11th Centuries Construction Epigraphs of Armenia). Yerevan: HSSH GA hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Manucharyan, A.A. 1988. Tʽalini Katʽołike ekełecʽin (The Cathedral Church of Talin). Ejmiadzin 8: 41-48 (in Armenian).
Mardirossian, A., Ouzounian, A., Zuckerman, C. (eds) 2014. Mélanges Jean-Pierre Mahé (Travaux et memoires 18). Paris: L’Amis du Centre d’histoire et Civilisation de Byzance.
Marr, N. 2011. Ani: Knižnaja istorija goroda i raskopki na meste gorodišča (Ani: Literary History of the City and Excavations at the Hillfort). Republished from Marr N., Ani, 1934, Leningrad. Yerevan: HH GAA ‘Gitut‘yun’ hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Russian).
Matevosyan, K. 1987. Aruč (Aruch). Yerevan: ‘Hayastan’ hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Matevosyan, K. 2010a. Dvin-Ani čanaparhi Aruč ev Tʽalin hangrvannerə (Aruch and Talin stations along Dvin-Ani road), in Matevosyan 2010b: 236-255 (in Armenian).
Matevosyan, K. 2010b. Ani-Širaki patmut‘yan ēǰer (hodvacneri žołovacu) /(Pages from the History of Ani-Shirak (Collection of Articles)/). Yerevan: Hełinakayin hratarakut‘yun (in Armenian).
Matevosyan, R. 1978. Anin arkʽuni atʽoṛanist ev mayrakʽałakʽ (Ani – throne city and capital). LHG 5: 89-94 (in Armenian).
Matheou, N. 2021. Merchant Capital, Taxation & Urbanisation. The City of Ani in the Global Long Thirteenth Century, in: De Nicola, Kinloch 2021: 75-116.
Melkonyan, H., Babajanyan, A., Harutyunyan, A., Davtyan, D., Aghaian, S. 2017. The Excavations of Dashtadem Fortress: Preliminary Report of 2015 Fieldwork Activity. AJNES 11/1-2: 263-292.
Mirijanyan, D., Alexanyan, T. 2014. Hnagitakan usumnasirutʽyunner Aruč hnavayrum (Archaeological investigations at the site of Aruch). Journal of Armenian Studies 2-3: 127-143 (in Armenian).
Movses Kaghankatvatsi 1969. Ałvanicʽ ašxarhi patmutʽyun (History of the Aghvan world. Translation, preface and notes by V. Arakelyan. Yerevan: ‘Hayastan’ hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Orbeli, H. 1966. Divan hay vimagrutʽyan. Ani kʽałakʽ (Corpus inscriptionum armenicarum. City of Ani), liber 1. Yerevan: HSSH GA hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Sadoyan, B. 1985. Aruči vałmiǰnadaryan hušarjannerə (Early medieval monuments of Aruch). PBH 4: 162-173 (in Armenian).
Sargisean, N. 1864. Tełagrutʽyun i Pʽokʽr ev i Mec Hays (Topography of the Minor and Greater Armenia). Venice: S. Lazaro (in Armenian).
Sargsyan, G.G., Melkonyan, H., Nalbandyan, G. 2001. Tʽalini mianav ekełecʽu norahayt storgetnya dambaranə (The newfound underground tomb of the one-nave church of Talin), in: Art of Christian Armenia. International conference thesis: 50-52 (in Armenian).
Sebeos 2005. Patmut’yun (History). Translation and notes by G. Khachatryan and V. Yeghiazaryan. Yerevan: Zangak (in Armenian).
Shahinyan, A. 1971. Aruči VII dari tačari šinararakan arjanagrutʽyan vercanman aṛtʽiv (On the deciphering of the construction inscription of 7th century Cathedral of Aruch). LHG 1: 78-84 (in Armenian).
Shahkhatunyants, H. 2014. Storagrutʽyun katołike Eǰmiacni ev hing gavaracʽ Araratay (Subscription of the Cathedral of Ejmiadzin and the Five Regions of the Ayrarat Province). Ejmiadzin: Mayr At‘oṙ Surb Eǰmiacin hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Thierry, J.M. 1985. A propos de quelques monuments chrétiens du vilayet de Kars. RÉA 19: 285-323.
Tokarski, N. 1961. Arxitektura Armenii v IV-XIV vv. (Architecture of Armenia in 4th-14th Centuries). Yerevan: ArmGosIzdat (in Russian).
Toramanyan, T. 1942. Nyut‘er haykakan čartarapetutʽyan patmutʽyan (Materials for the History of Armenian Architecture), vol. 1. Yerevan: Armfan Press (in Armenian).
Toramanyan, T. 1948. Nyut‘er haykakan čartarapetutʽyan patmutʽyan (Materials for the History of Armenian Architecture), vol. 2. Yerevan: HSSH GA hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Tovma Arcruni and Anonymous 1985. Patmutʽyun Arcruneacʽ tan (The History of the House of Artsruni). Translation and notes by V. Vardanyan. Yerevan: Yerevani hamalsarani hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
Vardanyan, E. (ed.) 2015. Hoṛomos Monastery: Art and History. Paris: ACHCByz.
Yakobson, A. 1950. Očerk istorii zodčestva Armenii V-XVII vekov (An Outline of the History of Architecture of Armenia in 5th-17th Centuries). Moscow-Leningrad: Izdatel’stvo arxitektury i gradostroitel’stva (in Russian).
Yeghiazaryan, H. 1955. Grigor Mamikonyan išxani kaṛucʽac tačarə ev palatə Tʽališ gyułum ev verǰinis hnagitakan pełumnerə (The Cathedral and palace built by Prince Grigor Mamikonian in the village of Talish and the latter’s archaeological excavations). Ejmiadzin 2: 35-41.
Yeghishe 1958. Vardananc’ patmut’yunə (History of Vardans). Translation and notes by E. Ter-Minasyan. Yerevan: HayPetHrat (in Armenian).
Zakaria Kanakertsi 2013. Patmagrutʽyun (Historiography). Translation and notes by V. Arakelyan. Yerevan: ‘Hayastan’ hratarakč‘ut‘yun (in Armenian).
