The Minister of Culture of Armenia, Hasmik Poghosyan, and US Ambassador Richard Mills traveled to the Dashtadem fortress complex.

One of the largest medieval fortresses in the Caucasus, the site has great historical and architectural significance. It is the home to the 7th century Saint Sargis Church, the 12th century Khan Palace, and 9th century Christian gravestones.

The U.S. Embassy partnered with the Government of Armenia, the Ministry of Culture, and the AMAP Human Development NGO to make the Dashtadem preservation project a reality.

Thanks to this project, the compound was first cleared of rubbish and the remnants of modern structures, allowing for excavation work on the inner citadel and the surrounding wall. 35 meters of the outlines and foundations of the medieval defensive walls have been uncovered, including two semicircular towers. The excavations also uncovered remnants of late medieval dwellings and items used in commerce, such as ovens.

“Armenian history is rich and long. It is also multi-layered, as different cultural eras came into being, intermingled, and declined,” said Ambassador Mills said. “Preserving this Fortress will help future generations understand the story of how the modern Armenian people came to be.”