Hebrew University researchers have discovered a Jewish cemetery in Armenia dating back to the Middle Ages. The discovery is especially noteworthy, given the fact that no Jewish community was known to have existed in Armenia prior to modern times.
The graveyard, located in the Siwniq region, southeast of the country's capital, contains more than 40 Jewish gravestones. The cemetery's discovery was made by a research team headed by Comparative Religion Professor, Michael Stone. He was able to explore the area with the cooperation of the Armenian bishop of the region, Abraham Mkrtchtyan. Among the gravestones found were 16 with inscriptions in Hebrew and Aramaic and Armenian-style decorations. The stones bore dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. Prof. Stone said that though there are oral traditions which place Jews in Armenia in ancient times, until now there was no information of the existence of such a community much earlier than the 19th century. In view of this unprecedented discovery, an agreement has been signed between the Armenian Studies program at the Hebrew University, the Institute of Archaeology of the Armenian Academy of Sciences and the Siwniq Bishopric of Armenia. The agreement provides for further investigation of the current graveyard site as well as investigation of other possible Jewish sites in Armenia.
The graveyard, located in the Siwniq region, southeast of the country's capital, contains more than 40 Jewish gravestones. The cemetery's discovery was made by a research team headed by Comparative Religion Professor, Michael Stone. He was able to explore the area with the cooperation of the Armenian bishop of the region, Abraham Mkrtchtyan. Among the gravestones found were 16 with inscriptions in Hebrew and Aramaic and Armenian-style decorations. The stones bore dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. Prof. Stone said that though there are oral traditions which place Jews in Armenia in ancient times, until now there was no information of the existence of such a community much earlier than the 19th century. In view of this unprecedented discovery, an agreement has been signed between the Armenian Studies program at the Hebrew University, the Institute of Archaeology of the Armenian Academy of Sciences and the Siwniq Bishopric of Armenia. The agreement provides for further investigation of the current graveyard site as well as investigation of other possible Jewish sites in Armenia.