TOURINFO- The Travel is a vacation destination website, publishes travel news of all kinds with writers who are world-travelers, local tipsters, foodies, and adventurers with a passion for sharing their experience. Author Marika Kazimierska gathered all the information for the Armenian Stonehenge from ancient-origins.com, thetravel.com, armeniadiscovery.com, smithsonianmag.com, dailymail.co.uk, and in an article (published on January 12, 2020), presented 20 fascinating points about the Armenian Stonehenge, proving that it deserves much more attention.
Carahunge, also called Zorats Karer, Karahunj, Qarahunj and Carenish, is a prehistoric archaeological site near the town of Sisian in the Syunik Province of Armenia. Also often referred to in international tourist lore as the “Armenian Stonehenge”.
England’s Stonehenge is one of the most famous ancient sites in the world, but why aren’t more people talking about a prehistoric site in Armenia that might predate the Wiltshire stones by a whopping 2,500 years?
The Zorats Karer, also known as Carahunge or simply, “Armenian Stonehenge,” is a mysterious ancient site that is made up of over two hundred large stone monoliths with eighty having distinctive well-polished holes in them. Like England’s Stonehenge, there is an unraveling mystery behind their exact use or what the site used to be. With experts claiming that the Armenian Stonehenge may have been built as far back as 7,500 years ago, we might never know their purpose.
There have been multiple theories about these massive stones, but the one that has caught people’s attention the most was that the stones were used as an astronomical observatory. It might even be the world’s oldest observatory. To this day, experts still cannot unravel its use.
Here are 20 fascinating points about the Armenian Stonehenge that will intrigue you, proving that it deserves way more attention. 
Some of the world’s oldest things were found in Armenia. From the oldest shoe to a wine-making facility over thousands of years ago. However, nothing is quite as mysterious as Zorats Karer, famously known by tourists as the Armenian Stonehenge, located in the nation’s southernmost province. Here, you’ll find over two hundred large stone monoliths, eighty which have distinctive, well-polished holes in them, Smithsonian Magazine states.
Most people have heard about Stonehenge in England, but the incredible stones in Armenia should receive just as much attention. According to Armenia Discovery, the history of the site dates back to 7,500 years. Experts have theorized that Zorats Karer was built as an astronomical observatory and is one of the oldest observatories in the world, however, there have been unyielding debates on what exactly the site was for. 
Scholarly accounts suggest that the stones were used for prehistoric stargazing. Archaeologist Onnik Khnkikyan believed that the well-polished holes in the stones, which are two inches in diameter and run up to twenty inches deep, were used as an early telescope for looking at the sky. 
Not everyone agrees with the interpretation that this prehistoric site was used to look up at the sky. According to Ancient-Origins, experts believe the site is just an ancient settlement, having a status of a mausoleum, and was a “multi-use monument.” But, tourists who visit the site are more intrigued by its use as an astronomical observatory.
This impressive site was investigated by astrophysicists that believed the positions of the holes according to an astronomical calendar has aligned perfectly with the sunrise and sunset on the day of the summer solstice. Researchers also unearthed several stones that were used to make observations of the sun, moon, and stars.
According to Ancient-Origins, in ancient times, the stones were shaped and arranged in several parts known as the north and south arms, the central circle, the north-eastern alley, the separate standing system of circles, and the chord. Researchers suggest that the site had at least two meanings: ritual and scientific.
While most would suggest that the stones were used to study the sun, moon, and planets, others still believe that the site was nothing more than a settlement. The mystery is still unraveling about this ancient site, however, Daily Mail writes that instead of feuding about the use of the site, two opposing research institutes have agreed to work together to solve its mystery.
Also known as the Carahunge, members of the Bnorran Historic-Cultural NGO and the Armenian Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography co-signed an agreement to study this ancient site together. Instead of stating that the site is the first-ever astronomical observatory or just a mere settlement, the two groups will converge and study all of the site’s aspects.
Some experiments claim that these massive and heavy stones were brought from the nearby gorge along the river called Dar, explains Armenia Discovery. They added that people actually transferred the stones with the help of animals and ropes.
The rocks at the Armenian site resemble those at England’s famous Stonehenge, but researches believe Carahunge is much older than its Wiltshire counterpart. According to one theory, England’s Stonehenge was built as a burial site and monument to the dead, while Armenian Stonehenge was used to look up at the sky. Still, both famous sites are covered in mystery.
Armenia Discovery writes that the site is if not the world’s oldest astronomical observatory, then among the ancient observatories. It is located on a mountain plateau in the Syunik province not far from the city of Sisian. As mentioned before, 80 of the stones have holes that guarantee the “accuracy and stability” towards the direction of the sunrise and sunset.
One theory suggests that the stones form the structural remains of a city wall, where the rocks supported the piles of rubble that have since been removed from the site. This opinion, that the stones are nothing more than an ancient settlement comes from researches at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography.
According to the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, not one astronomical tool has been found from the area, adding that some of the holes that are reportedly used for stargazing, are located on lower parts of some of these stones and do not even point at the stars.
Holes in the basalt rocks have led researchers to believe that they were used to look up at the sky, proving that the site was an ancient observatory. Armenian physicist Paris Herouni stated that the stones were deliberately positioned to align with Deneb, the brightest star in the constellation of Cygnus.
More investigation about this ancient site has been on hold but will resume once a “jointly-held seminar of experts,” including, archaeologists, astronomers and ethnographers come together to figure out a shared research plan for the site. It may possibly put the mystery of the stones to rest.
Between 1994 and 2001, the site was studied heavily by radio physicists with famous archaeo-astronomer Gerald Hawkings visiting. During this time, German archaeologists made their own impression of the ancient site and suggested that is is a Middle Bronze Age necropolis or the remains of a Hellenistic city wall. But, many researchers still hold on to the observatory theory.
According to Ancient-Origins, the site may remain a mystery because there is a lack of funds that would help in continuing the excavation of the site by archaeologists. However, people from around the world visit the Armenian Stonehenge, even bringing their own telescopes to observe the sky.
Many people visit the site, believing that it is indeed an ancient astronomical observatory. Tourists bring their telescopes and choose the dates which are best to observe the night sky, the sun, moon, certain stars and even the planets at this location. Even though the mystery of the stones is not yet solved, people are sticking to the notion that the stones were used to look at the sky.
To this day, Zorats Karer remains a place to look up into the sky. There is even a small museum nearby with artifacts discovered on the site, including stones with petroglyphs and grave goods from Bronze Age cist burials. According to Ancient-Origins, researches still believe there are more items yet to be discovered here.
Will the mystery of the Armenian Stonehenge ever be solved? Was the site used as an observatory for the stars or just an ancient settlement? Hopefully, experts will put their difference aside to come together and start unraveling what exactly this prehistoric site really was and what it was used for.
Source: https://www.thetravel.com/stonehenge-armenia-fascinating/
