2nd millennium BC - Syunik Region

"Zorakarer- General View" © 2000 Raffi Kojian, All Rights Reserved

Also known as Karahunj, Angelakoth, and just Zorakar, the ancient monument of Zorakarer is an equivalent to England's Stonehenge, only older and cruder.  

All Armenia, and especially the mountainous region of Zangezur, is rich in beautiful remains of prehistoric times. In the various regions of the province of Sisian are found many megalithic monuments, which are among the oldest structures in stone. Examples of this megalithic culture are the dolmens and the arrangements of menhirs at Angelakoth which belong to the second millennium B.C. [this paragraph is from the book, "Monuments of Armenia".]

Leaving Sisian on the road NNE from the center of town, climb up the hill, then turn hard left where you see the rusting steel umbrellas.  This road will lead you in a couple of km to Zorakarer*, a Bronze Age settlement/cemetery site left of the road, around whose large chamber tombs are a series of standing stones, some with holes pierced in them.  It is universally assumed that this is an early observatory, though the alignment is not ideal for the purpose.  In any case, the site is beautiful and ancient, well worth the visit.  [this paragraph is from the "Rediscover Armenia Guide".]

"Zorakarer - burial mound" © 2000 Raffi Kojian, All Rights Reserved

"Zorakarer - View through hole in one rock, lining up with other rocks" © 2000 Raffi Kojian, All Rights Reserved