Archaeological discoveries at Tatev monastery complex

Preliminary archaeological work at the Big Desert of Tatev, a medieval Armenian monastery complex, has already yielded significant results.

According to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport's Research Center for Historical and Cultural Heritage, dense vegetation and thickets have been cleared, making previously inaccessible areas open to visitors.

Initial excavations and site clean-up efforts have uncovered several notable findings, including an anchor, a stone hearth and a fragment of a glazed ceramic bowl. Entrances to several rooms sealed for years have now been reopened. Inside the complex, hundreds of stones have been repositioned, revealing fragments of khachkars (cross-stones) and tombstones.

Partial excavations have also unearthed both glazed and unglazed pottery shards. Excavation efforts continue at the site.