In the 2nd half of the 2nd millennium BCE, the Armenian Highland and surrounding areas underwent major socio-political transformations. It is marked by the rise of fortified settlements and strongholds, often accompanied by large cemeteries. Recent archaeological research at the northern and northeastern slopes of Mount Aragats in Armenia has shed light on settlement patterns, land use, and the regional community hierarchy. In this context, the Lernakert archaeological sites, situated at the northwestern slopes of Mount Aragats, provide valuable insights into the socio-economic structures and defensive systems of the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages (15th–8th/7th centuries BCE).
This talk presents discoveries from Armenian–German excavations to explore the interconnected system comprising the fortresses ‘Veri Berd’ and ‘Vari Berd’, their neighboring cemeteries, and related archaeological features. The research includes (a) an analysis of the architectural and defensive components of the fortresses, (b) a review of the stratigraphic layers and material remains, (c) an accurate timeline using radiocarbon dating, and (d) present how the fortresses are embedded in the local archaeological landscape by mapping graves and other landscape features, supported by GIS-based analysis. By combining the Lernakert evidence with neighboring settlement clusters, we will examine how the fortresses fit within the wider local settlement structure, their possible interconnections, and the rationale for their cemetery locations, and compare these patterns with the results of the Project ArAGATS investigations. Initial findings suggest continuous habitation and cultural evolution, reinforcing the significance of the Lernakert complex in broader discussions of the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age transition in the South Caucasus.

First Author: Benik Vardanyan

Co-Authors: Sabine Reinhold, Mariam Saribekyan, Dirk Mariashk, Noushig Zarikian

Keywords:
Armenia
Mount Aragats
Fortified settlements
Late Bronze Age–Early Iron Age
Cemeteries and mortuary landscapes
GIS-based landscape analysis