Ukhtasar Petroglyphs: Ancient Echoes on Armenia’s Sacred Rocks

The Ukhtasar Petroglyphs, known as the rock carvings of Mount Ukhtasar or “Pilgrim Mountain,” are located near the town of Sisian in the southern region of Armenia’s province of Syunik. This site encompasses over 1,000 adorned rock fragments stretching to the mountain’s base. Carved onto dark brownish-black volcanic stones, these petroglyphs are conjectured to have originated during the Paleolithic era (12,000 BCE) and are linked to subsequent Chalcolithic and Bronze Age cultures.

The site hosts a rich variety and abundance of carvings from the Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, and early Iron Age, with additional engravings attributed to subsequent epochs. The depictions on these rock fragments include scenes of hunting, a diverse array of animals, spirals, circles, geometric shapes, and zodiac signs. The research proposes that the area may have functioned as a temporary residence for nomadic tribes engaged in cattle herding. Examining the petroglyphs indicates their utilization over numerous centuries.

While the discovery of the Ukhtasar Petroglyphs dates back to the early 20th century, comprehensive studies did not commence until the 1920s, with subsequent investigations emerging in the late 1960s. However, a thorough understanding of the site remains an area of ongoing scholarly inquiry.