The LA3M Archaeological Mission in Yereruyk. Main results from the 2009-2016 campaigns

The LA3M Laboratory of Aix Marseille University (France), in cooperation with the Institute Archaeology and Ethnography Armenian Academy, represented on ground by Regional Museum Shirak, has carried out, from 2009 to 2016, an archaeological survey early Christian medieval site Yereruyk. project was aimed at a multidisciplinary approach complex, combining armenology, history art architecture, building archaeology, classic anthropology, geo-archaeology. One purposes better understand reasons why such large ensemble had been established space now deprived, northwestern tip country. complex includes vestiges several buildings, among which basilica, vaulted construction served perhaps as mausoleum, remains “false rampart”, series parallel walls corresponding, certain period, dam, two underground halls, numerous fragments sculpted stones. A special attention paid basilica cemetery, where twenty-seven tombs were studied detail. Another objective try clarify absolute relative dating main well function many them, still unclear. mission also sought specify relationship must have existed around year one thousand between religious capital Ani, it is only some kilometers away.