Armenia prepares UNESCO nominations for ancient Artashat and Syunik rock-cut settlements

YEREVAN — Armenia is preparing new nominations for UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List, including the ancient capital of Artashat and historic rock-cut settlements in Syunik Province.

Education, Science, Culture and Sport Minister Zhanna Andreasyan announced the plans on November 6 during parliamentary discussions on the draft 2027 state budget.

According to the minister, Armenia has resumed the process of submitting heritage sites to UNESCO’s Tentative List after a hiatus of nearly three decades.

The government aims to add five further monuments or groups of monuments to the Tentative List by 2031.

Preparatory work is currently focused on ancient Artashat, one of Armenia’s historic capitals, as well as rock-cut settlements in Syunik. Officials also intend to develop a nomination for one of the country’s fortresses.

Andreasyan highlighted other cultural heritage initiatives, including the nomination of Areni-1 Cave, a major archaeological site associated with prehistoric life and early winemaking in the Arpa River Gorge.

She also referred to a joint nomination with Iran concerning cultural traditions associated with rain and water, offering an opportunity to promote Armenia’s Vardavar tradition internationally.

The submission process resumed in 2024 with the addition of the Vishaps and Cultural Landscape of Tirinkatar nomination to the Tentative List.

Inclusion on the Tentative List does not automatically confer UNESCO World Heritage status. It represents an initial stage in a longer evaluation and nomination process.

Beyond international recognition, the initiative has implications for archaeological research, cultural tourism, heritage management and the long-term preservation of Armenia’s historic monuments.

The minister emphasized that effective management and conservation systems are important requirements in the UNESCO process.

The development comes amid continuing concerns over the protection of Armenian cultural heritage, particularly in territories now under Azerbaijani control.

Strengthening the protection of Armenia’s surviving historical sites remains an important component of safeguarding the country’s cultural identity and national heritage.