Today our work focused on a northward movement through the Kuchak survey quadrant, towards Aparan, but staying within 1 km of the M3 highway. Site densities are moderate to low here, which makes sense in light of our rather long distance from the Kasakh. (At this point in the valley, the Kasakh is much closer to the Tsaghkunyats Range than to Aragats.)
Most of our work here is focused on minor artifact scatters and amelioration evidence. However, one site is important to note here: a dense Paleolithic scatter positioned in the Aragats foothills along a minor Kasakh tributary at a latitude north of the Aparan Reservoir. The tributary appears to be cutting into the site, but the dense concentrations of lithic tools and some other scattered rock (pebble) formations in the ground suggest that there is an excavatable occupation of some significance.
Toward the end of the day we moved our transect walking (N-S) to a higher elevation on the mountain and we will see as we continue this work next week if our data pattern changes. (Tomorrow will be an off day.)