YEREVAN. - The State Hermitage Museum of Russia and Armenian museums will work jointly to study the exhibits and archeological artifacts found in Karmir Blur (Red Hill), as well as excavate new ones.

Director of Hermitage, Mikhail Piotrovsky, and Culture Minister of Armenia, Armen Amiryan, on Tuesday signed an agreement at the History Museum of Armenia on “Strategic Cooperation between the State Hermitage and Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia on examining Karmir Blur and its surrounding”.

The agreement supposes joint work between the archaeologists and conservators in carrying out excavations, examining artifacts and conserving the archaeological materials in the territory of Karmir Blur.

The latest examinations in Karmir Blur ended this spring, as a result of which 281 tombs were found on each 6 cubic meters.  

According to Mikhail Piotrovsky, Karmir Blur was chosen for the purpose of excavations, since the archaeological site has not been disclosed till the end and is thus of great significance for archaeologists.

“Nothing is disclosed till the end, and in this regard this ancient settlement is of great significance to us,” he said.

Under one of the paragraphs of the agreement, in 2018 Hermitage will host an international conference dedicated to the 110th anniversary of Boris Piotrovsky and 2800th anniversary of Yerevan, as well as small exhibitions featuring Hermiateg exhivits in Armenia.

Mikhail Piotrovsky has arrived in his native city of Yerevan along with his son Boris Piotrovsky, who will deal with the publications of art illustration books.