The fortress of Aragatsiberd (plate IVa) lies along the eastern margin of the Tsaghkahovit Plain, at the intersection of the modern Yerevan-Spitak road which traverses the Pambak pass, and the Sipan (Pamb-Kurdskii) canyon road which traverses the Spitak pass. The fortress lies 5.18km southeast (bearing 102°) of Gegharot fortress and 7.96km northeast (bearing 36°) of Tsaghkahovit fortress (map quad D5l).
Set atop an eroded conical outcrop, Aragatsiberd commands dramatic views over the eastern Tsaghkahovit plain, including the upper Kasakh canyon to the south and Sipan canyon to the north. The outcrop is highly eroded, particularly on its southern edge and has been destroyed in parts by modern construction on the summit.
Despite the damage to the site, several segments of stone masonry walls are visible from the surface along with a significant concentration of ceramic debris (maps 25, 42).
The volume of surface ceramics from Aragatsiberd (figs. V I.1, 2, 31) was quite high compared to similarly sized sites such as Berdidosh or Tsilkar (n=84), undoubtedly a result of the digging associated with the modern construction. The materials were classifiable into two periods of occupation: the Early Bronze Age (18 sherds) and the Late Bronze 3/Iron 1a (34 sherds) (see fig VI.31). No spatial patterning in the distribution of sherds on the site could be effectively defined, although, unsurprisingly, the density of materials increased near the modern spoil heaps
Avetisyan et al. 2000: 30; Commission for the Preservation of Historical Monuments site number 701.2.
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