ԲՐՈՒՏԵԱՆ ԳՐԻԳՈՐ – ՄԱԼԽԱՍԵԱՆ ՀԱՅԿ / BROUTIAN GRIGOR – MALKHASIAN HAYK 
(arm)
«Զօրաց Քարեր» Յուշարձանի վերջին չափագրումից բխող որոշ նախնական արդիւնքների մասին
About some preliminary results based on the last measurements of “Zorats Qarer” Megalithic monument 

Bazmavep 2021 / 3-4, pp. 107-148

In 2020, complete measurements were carried out at the Zorats Qarer monu­ment to obtain accurate digital data for further astronomical research. A thorough place inspection was also conducted, during which some new facts that had not been noticed before were revealed. In particular, special observation platforms and "angular megaliths" were identified, which clearly point in some directions. The observation platform (Platform 1) examined here is connected to 4 stones (N 60, 62, 64 and 66) and shows 4 different directions of the eastern horizon. The two directions of 197 and 198 "angular stones" are also examined. Depending on time, possible origins and transitions of celestial bodies up to 2m.50 visible magnitude have been observed in all the mentioned directions. The dates of the origin of the ancient Armenian calendars (the dates of the beginning of the Haykian (2341 BC) and the Protohaykian (9000 BC) calendars) were con­sidered as possible times for observations. 5800 BC was chosen as another pos­sible date for observations, taking into account a reasonable suspicion that the monument had possibly undergone some changes. The positions of bright stars’ solar rising and setting were determined with respect to the solstices and equi­noxes. The analysis of the obtained results allowed to conclude that the possible observation days of the stars are directly and indirectly connected with the cereal cultivation and the ancient Armenian calendars. Most likely, the dis­cussed part of this astronomical (religious-ritual) complex was used in the IX-III millennia BC, undergoing some changes in the middle of the VI mil­lennium BC.