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.