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All Armenia Sisian Zorats Karer

Zorats Karer

Called the "Armenian Stonehenge," this ring of menhirs pierced with holes may be a prehistoric astronomical observatory.

Sisian, Armenia

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Ara
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Standing stone with hole.   age fotostock / Alamy
Standing stone with hole.   age fotostock / Alamy
Zorats Karer   Baykar Sepoyan
A viewing hole?   Armen Manukov
Standing stones.   MEDIACRAT
Standing stone with hole.   Rita Willaert
Zorats Karer   Armen Manukov
Part of the interior of Zorats Karer   Rita Willaert
Zorats Karer   Armen Manukov
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About

Outside the remote village of Sisian, Armenia, stands a circle of Neolithic stones, well weathered with age. Some of the stones are pierced with a circular hole through which observers can see the sky and the stars.

The Zorats Karer, also called Karahunj or Carahunge, consists of 223 stones in total, arranged in a circle flanked by northern and southern arms. It has been dated to the Middle Bronze Age or possibly the Iron Age. Though its purpose remains unknown, several astronomers have suggested the site is an ancient astronomical observatory due to the circular holes that were bored into several of the standing stones.

An alternative theory is that the stones are what remains of the walls of an ancient Armenian city. Whatever the truth, these weather-beaten stones standing mysteriously atop a wild windswept hill are well worth the trip.

Related Tags

Stonehenge Astronomy Ancient Neolithic Mystery Observatories
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Added By

haydegha0917

Edited By

Meg

  • Meg

Published

May 7, 2018

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  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorats_Karer
Zorats Karer
Sisian
Armenia
39.5507, 46.0286
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