Between 2022 and 2024, ArchPro was involved in the complete mapping of an Early Bronze Age (EBA, ca. 3500-2400 BC) hilltop settlement in the Armenian highlands. Artanish 9 is the first EBA site in the southern Caucasus that was completely mapped using geophysical techniques (Magnetometry and Gound Penetrating Radar). An exceptional result of these non-invasive surveys is the massive fortification wall enclosing the settlement. Subsequent excavations confirm that the wall and the domestic structures inside were built at the same time. This layout is an anomaly in the Southern Caucasus, where the EBA is often described as peaceful and egalitarian. This leads to interesting new questions about the socio-economic and socio-political structure of EBA communities in this mountain landscape. Why did they build the wall?

The geophysical surveys are now published in open access in Antiquity! You can read it here

We will continue to investigate Artanish 9 in 2026. With generous support by the Gerda Henkel Stiftung, we will start a landscape archaeological study of the site's surroundings in September 2026. Staff and students of ArchPro will, together with colleagues of the University of Halle and the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, work on new geophysical surveys, fieldwalking, coring, and remote sensing to characterize settlement and land use in the highlands to the north-east of Lake Sevan.

More info: wieke.de-neef@uni-bamberg.de