Tigranakert Expedition Uncovers Tomb on Raffi Street in Martakert, Says Archaeologist Hamlet Petrosyan

On July 11, a team from the Tigranakert expedition, including archaeologists Hamlet Petrosyan and Tatyana Vardanessova, discovered a slab tomb that had been revealed during construction on Raffi Street in Martakert. Hamlet Petrosyan shared the news on his Facebook page, stating:

“Archaeology in pandemic conditions: Early Christian slab tomb newly discovered in Martakert. The areas adjacent to Tigranakert, located in Artsakh-Utikian plain, are rich in early Christian settlements and burial fields. Notable types of burials include sarcophagal and slab tombs. Today, July 11, a unit from the Tigranakert expedition uncovered a slab tomb on Raffi Street during construction.”

After processing the skeleton, it will be handed over to the Martakert Historical-Ethnographic Museum, along with the burial slabs to enhance the museum’s exhibition. Special thanks are extended to the head of the Martakert Regional Service for the Protection of Historical Environment, Avetik Aghabekyan, and the city authorities for their support.”