Astronomical Megaliths in Armenia : Carahunge (Carahundge, Caranish) near Goris, Ararat : Astroarchaeological Monuments - LexiLine Journal 358

A reader of my websites has referred me to the previously unknown megaliths of Armenia at Carahunge (Carahundge, Caranish) near Goris, about 150 km southeast of Ararat. For maps of Armenia see MultiMap at http://uk.multimap.com/index/AM1.htm

For the megalithic site of Carahunge itself see the website http://www.carahunge.com/index.html and the reference to the book by Professor Paris Herouni "Armenians and Old Armenia" at
http://www.carahunge.com/carahunge-book.html

There is also a good discussion by Nikolai Bochkarev entitled "Ancient Armenian Astroarchaeological Monuments: Personal Impressions of Metsamor and Carahunge" at http://www.folklore.ee/SEAC/SEAC_teesid2.htm

Professor Herouni dates Carahunge to 5000 BC which I find to be doubtful, since the megalithic-building period centers around 3000 BC. Bochkarev writes in this regard:

"The author is in all probability the first professional astronomer outside Armenia who has ever visited Carahunge. The site is located 3 km from the city of SiSian (in the Eastern part of the Republic of Armenia and 200 km from the capital, Yerevan) at the Eastern slope of Zangezur Ridge, 1770 m above sea level at 39.5 deg. North latitude and 46.0 deg. East longitude. It is part of a larger neolithic site dating from the third/second millennia BC with many dolmens and similar features. The monument consists of more than 200 vertical 1 - 2.8 m high megaliths of considerably varying form (P. Herouni with co-workers counted and described 222 main stones). Some of the stones (no more than a quarter of the total) have fallen to the ground."

I think Bochkarev is closer to the true date of the Carahunge site, which will be part of the ancient survey of the Earth by astronomy that I describe in my book Stars Stones and Scholars. See http://www.starsstonesscholars.com/ However, I have not yet read Herouni's book and until I do, my remarks here are provisional.

My initial examination of available photographs of the megaliths at Carahunge definitely show them to be of a style of carving typical for ca. 3000 BC. In addition, whereas everyone is concentrating on the holes in the megaliths, some of the megaliths show clear signs of being carved into definite shapes and also have cupmarks for the stars to which they are oriented - features which can not be ignored.

Research needs to be done here.