Wednesday, January 15 2020 14:56

ArmInfo. Archaeologists have discovered in Armenia an ancient water supply system with almost two thousand years of history.

According to director of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography  of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia Pavel Avetisyan,  not  far from the ancient monastery of Khor Virap, the foundations of an  aqueduct (a water conduit for supplying water from sources located  above them) were found, Avetisyan stated this at a press conference  on January 14. In total, within the framework of the Armenian-German  program, 20 foundations were found, located over a length of one  kilometer. According to experts, they relate to 114 - 117 AD, and  give a new idea of the water supply system of ancient Artashat.

Avetisyan did not exclude the possibility that the aqueduct was used  to supply water from the Garni River.  According to him, the research  will continue in the current year.

Apart from the aqueduct, archaeologists have yet to study another  major find: geomagnetic studies have revealed the surviving  foundations of large palace buildings in the vicinity of modern  Artashat, near the 13th hill. All of them are located on the  territory of privatized lands, which means that for the excavation it  will be necessary to come to an agreement with the owners. Avetisyan  expressed hope that this process will begin this year. According to  him, the excavations will make it possible to present the ancient  Artashat to the scientific community in a completely new way.

Artashat town has a rich history. A settlement in ancient Artashat  existed since the Urartian period. In 190- 189 BC independence of  Great Armenia from the Seleucids was proclaimed, its first king was  Artashes I, who later founded Artashat (means "joy of Artashes"). The  Romans considered Artashat Armenian as Carthage.