Harichavank Monastery — Shirak Plateau Forte Monastery
Medieval (7th c. early; Surb Astvatsatsin 1201 Zakarian)·Armenian Zakarian princes & later Armenian Catholicos summer seat 1850–1932·🇦🇲 Shirak Province, Harich village, Shirak plain, near Artik, Armenia
About
About Harichavank Monastery — Shirak Plateau Forte Monastery
Harich Catholicos seat 1850–1932, Zakarian 1201 church. Recorded context — Period: Medieval (7th c. early; Surb Astvatsatsin 1201 Zakarian); Culture: Armenian Zakarian princes & later Armenian Catholicos summer seat 1850–1932; Field status: partially excavated; Materials: rusty tuf, basalt; Condition: preserved — restored.
Why it mattersKey Armenian Zakarian princes & later Armenian Catholicos summer seat 1850–1932 temple-complex with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function of enclosure
- 02Construction labor organization
Theories
- 01Observatory
- 02Elite residence
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 7th c. early chapel; 1201 Surb Astvatsatsin Zakarian
- Period
- Medieval (7th c. early; Surb Astvatsatsin 1201 Zakarian)
- Culture
- Armenian Zakarian princes & later Armenian Catholicos summer seat 1850–1932
- Purpose
- Shirak's large fortified monastery with 1850 Catholicos palace (30 cells) — later Armenian Catholicos seat 1850, on plateau edge with double walls
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1988
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
7th c. early chapel; 1201 Surb Astvatsatsin Zakarian
Initial construction / first occupation at Harichavank Monastery — Shirak Plateau Forte Monastery
c. 1200 CE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Harichavank Monastery — Shirak Plateau Forte Monastery
1970 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Harichavank Monastery — Shirak Plateau Forte Monastery
On the ground
Structures & features
40.6060° N · 43.9990° E · 1660 m · 4 mapped features
- Harichavank Monastery — Shirak Plateau Forte Monastery — Principal Templetempletemple at Harichavank Monastery — Shirak Plateau Forte Monastery — subsidiary complex40.6049° N · 43.9988° E
- Harichavank Monastery — Shirak Plateau Forte Monastery — Altar Annex 2altaraltar at Harichavank Monastery — Shirak Plateau Forte Monastery — primary structure40.6076° N · 44.0007° E
- Harichavank Monastery — Shirak Plateau Forte Monastery — Southern Shrineshrineshrine at Harichavank Monastery — Shirak Plateau Forte Monastery — hydraulic feature40.6050° N · 43.9982° E
- Harichavank Monastery — Shirak Plateau Forte Monastery — Eastern Templetempletemple at Harichavank Monastery — Shirak Plateau Forte Monastery — hydraulic feature40.6058° N · 43.9979° E
Gallery