Today marked the completion of transect 13 (on begun at end of day on 7/10) and the walking of transect 14 back to the Kasakh. Weather was warm and windy, with some helpful afternoon clouds.
After providing a settlement ID for the sprawling cultural landscape we recorded yesterday. We commenced south on transect 13. We identified one cist cluster, as well as some isolated burials and architectural segments, before coming upon a surge in cyclopean architectural walls and finally a fortress (Nigaberd, Ar/Ni.AG15.12). The mound at the center of the site was perhaps 100 m long E-W, ovoid in shape, and hosted several cyclopean fortress and terracing walls. Beyond this rather limited space, however, sprawled multiple cyclopean enclosures, rooms, and additional ridge fortifications, suggesting a rather extensive complex (mostly to the northwest). Many basins and carvings were visible on the basalt architecture.
As a group we investigated an interesting surface collection by Salpi of obsidian and pottery within a sloped drainage at the far end of the transect. There was no obvious site responsible for the material eroding down the slope, but we did not venture to the top of the ridge where gentle bench sits. This appears to have been a potential site setting, to be investigated on a future transect.
The northerly transect that followed (14) involved less dense a cultural landscape: several E-W walls (overall, this survey sector features a great deal of E-W architecture, to the practical exclusion of N-S built features) and a cromlech burial cluster upon which clearance stones had been extensively stacked.
After showing Ian the fortress after his lunchtime arrival, we walked the remainder of Salpi's transect together (she left early) and located one additional burial cluster () overlooking the Kasakh. Tomorrow we will knock out additional transects, moving eastwards (with 5 transect walkers instead of 4).