Aramus: Fortress and History

At the western entrance to Aramus lies Aramus Fortress, a Cyclopean and Urartian complex. Its long history of use, archaeological finds, and location on a long, narrow ridge give the site a distinct focus on cultural history. If you are interested in early fortifications, Aramus offers a clearly defined topic for planning your trip.

Location and Extent of the Fortress

The ridge is approximately 400 meters long and 300 meters wide. The fortress rises about 50 meters above the surrounding area and covers around ten hectares. These figures describe different aspects of the complex: length and width refer to the extent of the ridge, height to the difference in elevation from the surrounding area, and the area to the size of the fortress grounds. Together, they give a picture of an extensive complex on elongated, elevated terrain. The ridge’s horizontal shape and its elevation above the surrounding area are thus both apparent. The fortress is therefore characterized by both its position on the ridge and the size of its area.

Use Over Several Centuries

Radiocarbon dates place the fortress’s use from the mid-9th to the end of the 4th century BC. Its most intensive period of use was in the 7th to 5th centuries BC. The two time spans describe different aspects of its history: the longer period covers the duration of use, while the shorter interval marks its peak. When considering the chronology, it is therefore worth distinguishing between the long period of use and its temporal focus. The fortress thus represents a span of use lasting several centuries, within which the most intensive period clearly stands out.

Archaeological Finds

Finds include pottery, worked obsidian, a cult stele made of red tuff, and weapons and jewelry made of bronze and iron. The obsidian has a specific connection to the Iron Age: the worked material is associated with the production of stone tools. The other finds represent additional categories of objects, including the cult object, metal weapons, and jewelry. The range thus extends from pottery and worked stone to cult objects, weapons, and jewelry. The different materials and types of finds add another perspective on the fortress alongside its structural remains. The obsidian associated with the production of stone tools is particularly distinct from the other groups of finds mentioned.

Walls, Gates, and Internal Structures

The structural remains include comparatively well-preserved walls and entrance gates. Internal structures can be identified in the West Fort and Central Fort; elongated terraces are located on the slopes of the Central Fort. This distinction identifies the two areas: internal structures are noted for both the West Fort and Central Fort, while the terraces are explicitly located on the slopes of the Central Fort. The walls and gates add further named elements of the complex to these details about the forts. If you consider the fortress’s history through its specific features, its chronology, groups of finds, and different structural remains can thus be viewed together.

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For the main travel overview: Kotayk.