Lchashen

Complex of archeologic monuments relating to various periods near the Lchashen village in Sevansky area of Armenia.

Includes a Cyclopean fortress, settlements, burial grounds consisting of plural barrows, cromleches, earth burials and stone boxes. Within many centuries these monuments (except of Cyclopean fortresses) were under waters of lake Sevan. Since 1956 on a bared part of the lake coast an archeologic expedition under the direction of Armenian archeologist A.O.Mnatsakanjan investigated a number of objects. The Cyclopean fortress existed from the beginning of 3-rd millenium up to A.D. till VII century till A.D. and in IX - XIII centuries. Settlements contain cultural layers from 3-rd millenium till A. D. up to Middle Ages. Among the excavated burials there are burial places of 3-rd millenium up to A.D. Complexes of epoch of average bronze were also discovered. The majority of Lchashen monuments concerns to the advanced bronze (2nd part of 2nd millenia up to A.D.).

In the barrows there were found wooden vehicles with 2 and 4 wheels and fighting chariots. Products from bronze were found: models of chariots, bits, figures of animals (a lion, a deer, a bull, a goat and others) and birds, swords with sheaths, fighting axes, mirrors, the copper boiler; gold ornaments and the figurine of frog; silver bowls; products of wood (spoons, bowls, little tables, etc.). Finds testify to a high level of development of settled agricultural and cattle-breeding tribes of the Sevan basin even before the Urarta time.