Armenian archaeologists have taken up seriously the study of unique structures - "desert snakes" found on the territory of Armenia. These buildings are older than the Egyptian pyramids, some of them date back to the new Stone Age (XII-VI millennium BC), outwardly resembling geometric shapes.
Mariam, together with a group of four specialists, is going to start work in the village of Aragatsavan in the Aragatsotn region this October. Archaeologists intend to reveal the dating of the "desert snakes" and agglomeration houses found on this territory.
“Desert snakes and agglomeration houses are built of rough stone. They are mainly located at an altitude of 900-1400 meters above sea level, on the slopes of the mountains,”Shahmuradyan said.
The archaeologist does not exclude that such structures, the area of which varies from 1-30 hectares, were also on the plain, however, due to the anthropogenic factor, they could be destroyed. There are suggestions that there may be many such structures not only in Armavir and Aragatsotn regions, but also in Syunik.
“We are going to carry out exploration work in Syunik region in order to find these structures,” the archaeologist said.
The first "desert snakes" were discovered in the 1920s by RAF pilots. The images from above resemble a kite, therefore, the structures were then given the appropriate name - an air kite, and later, a desert kite.
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To date, "desert snakes" have been found in Jordan, Syria, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq and Armenia.
Desert serpents map.
According to the widespread version, they were built for hunting, but Shakhmuradyan believes that they could have a cult significance.
“We will finally be able to decide after we study the structures, then we will understand how they are actually called and for what purpose they were built,” Shahmuradyan said.
She stressed that another interesting fact is associated with the structures: agglomeration houses have always been erected next to the "desert snakes". Why and for what purpose - so far this remains unclear.
On the territory of Armenia, smaller, V-shaped structures have also been found recently: they consist of two low stone walls of different thicknesses and heights, which start far from each other and gradually converge. Until now, archaeologists cannot say what they were actually built for. Again, it is assumed that they were also for hunting.
“For a hundred years no one has been able to solve this mystery, as well as with the Egyptian pyramids. There are a number of versions, hypotheses that have yet to be proved,”Shahmuradyan said.
She emphasizes that these buildings are very important for Armenia.
Systematic studies of "desert snakes" began in Armenia in 2011. They are carried out by Armenian archaeologists and geologists together with their French and Israeli colleagues. From September the Armenian-Jewish group of archaeologists will work on the study of desert snakes. Archaeologists are trying to understand the functional significance, to determine the age of the monuments.
Laura Sargsyan
