A recent archaeological excavation in Armenia has revealed remnants of 6th-century BCE houses, a cremation cemetery, and evidence of a significant earthquake. This marks the first Polish-led research at the Davti Blur site, located in Nor Armavir.
The excavation, which resumed in October 2024 after a long hiatus, is part of a new collaborative project between Armenian and Polish archaeologists. The research is directed by Dr. Mateusz Iskra from the Centre for Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw and Hasmik Simonyan from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.
Dr. Iskra explained that Davti Blur, meaning 'David's Hill' in Armenian, was likely named after a medieval church that once stood there. The site encompasses part of the ancient city-fortress of Argishti-khinili, established in 774 BCE, which served as a key administrative and economic hub for the Urartian Kingdom during the 8th and 7th centuries BCE.
Previous studies had uncovered large houses belonging to the local elite in the well-preserved residential district adjacent to the citadel. Dr. Iskra noted, “This archaeological site is quite significant for all of Armenia. Initial excavations began in the 1960s and 70s, but it has since been somewhat neglected.”
The site is currently threatened by modern human activity, including illegal treasure hunting and the establishment of a landfill and a cemetery. “This is the last moment we could undertake extensive research,” Dr. Iskra emphasized.
During preliminary surface surveys, researchers identified outlines of massive walls, one measuring nearly 1.5 meters in thickness, which were found to be well-preserved remnants of two residential structures. Excavations revealed fragments of floors from two rooms, dating back to at least the 6th century BCE, a period marking the decline of Urartian statehood.
Unexpectedly, archaeologists also discovered traces of a cremation cemetery, where remains were buried in urns along with parts of the cremation pyre and ornaments. “Such artifacts are relatively easy to uncover, even for amateur treasure hunters,” Dr. Iskra noted, as evidence of illegal activities was found scattered across the former cemetery.
Among the findings was an intact urn covered with a stamped dish, which can be dated to the first half of the 7th century BCE. The contents of the dish await bioarchaeological analysis in Yerevan.
A team from the University of Warsaw's Department of Geology, led by Prof. Barbara Woronko, also participated in the research, identifying fault lines indicative of a destructive earthquake. However, it is too early to determine the exact timing of this event.
The next phase of research is planned for May and June 2025, focusing on mapping the site and expanding excavations in the residential areas. Simonyan emphasized the importance of conserving and documenting the site’s degradation, which will inform future preservation efforts.
“We aim to establish Davti Blur as an archaeological reserve open to tourism and develop educational programs to raise awareness of the need to preserve Armenia's archaeological heritage,” Simonyan concluded.