"Armenian Stonehenge", a photo from Syunik, East

Photographer's Note

There was a big interest in Bev' picture of the stone circle, so it inspired me to show these photos. As far as I know, Paul, Piotr and Gert were in Armenia but haven't visited Carahunge.

Carahunge (Zorats karer), this prehistoric monument is the “Armenian Stonehenge” though built much earlier. It is a huge ancient observatory the name of which is translated from Armenian as “sound of stones” ( "car" means "stone" and "hunge" means "sound"). Here seems you can hear how the stones wispier about the secrets of history. The remains of the complex, with smooth, angled holes on huge stones of 4 to 5 cm diameter, in Syunik Province of Armenia, are proof, that more than 7500 years ago exactly here, at the Carahunge observatory, were made observations of the sun, moon and stars at their rising, setting and culmination moments. Being almost 3000 years older than Stonehenge it is considered to be one of the oldest scientific centres of the world discovered till now.

It is located on a plateau that is 1770 meters above sea level. The complex occupies a territory of seven hectares- for comparison, it occupies as much territory as fourteen football fields together.

In this territory, one by one stand vertical monoliths that are grouped in the central cycle. Each stone weighs several tons and most probably those 220 stones had been brought to this place from the nearest gorge. Making holes on 84 of them by hammers and chisels and directing them to certain points/directions of the sky people (scientists) could follow the stars and the sky.

As you can see, there are still fascinating places that are without any tourists and infrastructure.

Two Workshops will follow.

on the map:

https://www.google.pl/maps/@39.5552548,46.0274194,14.75z

See also Workshops and in a large format.

ikeharel, Royaldevon, jhm, holmertz, pierrefonds, PaulVDV, PiotrF, jemaflor, ChrisJ, macjake, jean113 trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

Silvio1953 (205753) 2020-11-26 0:58

Ciao cara Malgo, great view of fascinating and interesting place, I don't know before, thanks. Beautiful photo with excellent clarity, fine details, wonderful natural colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Royaldevon (75420) 2020-11-26 2:02

Hello Malgo,

Thank you for this excellent link!
I love ancient history, yet knew nothing about this place! Its location reminds me very much of the setting of Castlerigg stone circle (which you have seen) but, of course, this is much older and bigger.
With those snowy b/g peaks, this reminds me of a scene from Lord of the Rings!

Have a good day and keep safe,
Bev :-)
Good news about the vaccines!

lousat (129979) 2020-11-26 2:41

Ciao Malgo,in fact this place is not very well known, probably because it is not easy to reach and therefore cut off from the classic tourist circuits, a bit like Ushguli which is not part of the bus tour programs with many participants. Really interesting, a forerunner of Stonehange in a truly spectacular photo with the snow capped mountains in the background. Regarding Treklens, it seems that he too died, but I had never signed up to that site, the regret for treknature and the lack of respect for the work of so many members left in smoke. Have a nice day...waiting the WS,Luciano

marine-coeur (1068) 2020-11-26 3:20

An amazing landscape all details from miles away are stunning and also an excellent perspective by vanishing points indeed the proportion of image is great
well done MALGORZATA KOPCZYNSKA

ikeharel (105923) 2020-11-26 5:56

Hello Malgo,
After seeing Beverley's stones-circle, it was a nice "discovery" of Armenia "Stonehenge" location, found it on Google-Map at 39.551, 46.03, the sight is most impressive. Located in the middle of a large plateau where no big stones seemed around, so I reckon that those rocks were moved by men from another site by ancient technique back in that era.
Three impressive photos presented.
Good afternoon,
Ike

jhm (203039) 2020-11-26 6:25

Hello Malgo,

A lovely panorama view with the Armenian Stonehenge
The silhouette of the mountain chain in background care for soft contrast.
Lovely detailed also pleasant to look at.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

holmertz (92884) 2020-11-26 7:01

Hello Malgo,
You are quite right: I wasn't here. Maybe Kasia? I wasn't even aware of this place, but it looks highly interesting and very remote. I guess the busloads of tourists were all behind you. ;-)
The scenery is fascinating, and even more fascinating is the knowledge that people erected these stones and made such observations so many thousands of years ago.
Kind regards,
Gert

pierrefonds (103567) 2020-11-26 10:35

Hi Malgo,

The wideness of the area is creating depth. The point of view is showing the details of the armenian Stohenge site. The cloudy sky does not hurt the colors output. Have a nice day.

Pierre

BennyV (32570) 2020-11-26 10:56

Wow, that's a very impressive scene, Malgo. Superb stony textures and what a backdrop! THis looks like a set for a fantasy movie. Armenia was our destination last summer before corona intervened, we still hope to get there...

Benny

ChrisJ (160036) 2020-11-26 11:01

Hello Malgo,

Amazing that ancient people were so advanced with astronomy. A nice shot of the circle of ancient stones with the snow hinting at the elevation. Tfs!

Tue (82264) 2020-11-26 12:06

Hello Malgo,
A fantastic photo of a fascinating area here with this ancient monument scattered around the slopes in the foreground. The snowy mountains with their peaks in the low-hanging clouds make a spectacular background as well.
Lars

PaulVDV (54865) 2020-11-26 14:47

Hello Malgo,
Yes, I have visited Karahunj but none of my pictures was good enough to show here.
I was there in another season and it's strange for me to see the snow on the foreground and also on the peaks. I guess it must still have been very cold there. It was hot when I was in Armenia.
It's indeed a very remarkable place.
Good presentation and excellent view of the surrounding landscape.
Best regards, Paul

PiotrF (52330) 2020-11-26 15:00

Czesc Malgo
Ja niestety tak daleko sie nie zapuszczalem, ale moze kiedys w czasach po wirusie ;) Na całym TE jeszcze tylko trzy zdjecia pojawily sie z tego miejsca to nie dziwne ze sie nie natknalem na nie - choc przyznaje ze tych okolic nie mialem w planach.
Poszukalem w moim fotoraficznym przewodniku po Armenii, ktorym jest album z pieknymi fotami, ktory kiedys dostalem od autora i nie myliłem sie - byl tam :) tylko foty jakos nie zapadly mi w pamiec. - Stone outlives man - jak wiele innych wpisuja sie w Armenie.
Swietna prezentacja
pozdrawiam 8*
Piotr

ifege (32287) 2020-11-26 22:28

Hi Malgo
Looks like a cold scene with the remains of snow still about. Not a place I've ever heard of so a very interesting post.
cheers
Ian

jemaflor (135448) 2020-11-26 23:40

Hi Malgo,
Interesting photo with first a nice landscape with a photogenic perspective result with Fg and mountains in the BG of this panorama and also with the focal point about this stone circle, well presented, tfs.

macjake (96157) 2020-11-27 5:46

Hi Malgo
wow, great subject! I really enjoy WS #2 the most.
after reading your note, i'm even more impressed. Funny how there are such amazing places on Earth that hardly anybody knows about. Perhaps if this site was easily accessible like Stonehedge, it would be more popular and more well known in general. what a great TE post Malgo, seriously, I have 100% learned something new today and I will never forget this 3000 year older 'stonehenge'. fantastic
cheers
Craig

abmdsudi (88573) 2020-11-27 5:59

Hi Malgorzata
Interesting write-up and history about this unknown place! Awesome how the standing prehistoric stones dominate at high altitude backed by such enticing snow mountains. It really is a sight to behold and you can challenge anyone to come away & several days later not still be in awe of the place. You, being a globetrotter are the lucky one and tx for sharing with us, Congrats
Best regards

jmdias (102932) 2020-11-27 9:25

malgo

stones are a fabulous material, not eternal, but if compared with our lives, almost.. an amazing place by itself with those mountains covered with ice, the points of rock are a special feature here. our imagination goes away while thinking in those remote days.. maybe mine or your ancestors created this..

take care

jorge

jean113 (22063) 2020-11-28 8:37

Hello Malgo, thank you for introducing this piece of ancient history to us.
As we look as these stones, we can only wonder at how difficult it must have been for the people who moved and placed all these stones.
A beautiful background of snow covered mountains.
Thanks for sharing, kind regards, Jean.