On the Expedition

Preserve the unique cultural identity of an Armenian city by documenting historic buildings and artifacts.

You’ll explore the Kumayri Historic District, a region rich in the culture and tradition of a bygone era. This neighborhood features historic houses built with indigenous red and black "tuff," classic churches, and open plazas. You’ll get to interact with local families while recording oral histories and will work with a teammate to sketch and measure floor plans and elevations, and photograph historic buildings and architectural details.

In your recreational time, you can journey to the countryside to explore ancient monasteries or visit the capital city of Yerevan to shop in the outdoor market and/or visit museums. An excursion to Etchmiadzin, the Armenian equivalent of the Vatican, is also planned.

Meals and Accommodations

You’ll stay in the Hotel Berlin, a short walk or van ride to your field study sites. The hotel is run by the German Red Cross, and features shared rooms, running water, and hot showers. You’ll start each day at the hotel with a traditional breakfast of cheeses, meats, eggs, vegetables, homemade apricot jam, and traditional Armenian flat bread, or lavash. Meals in the field can include all the culinary delights of the Caucasus region, such as khorovats (barbecued pork), and a wonderful assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables.

About the Research Area

For a country roughly the size of Switzerland, Armenia has an amazingly diverse range of landscapes. In the Shirak Region, located in the northwestern portion of the country, one can find semi-desert conditions as well as lush mountain meadows and northern alpine areas. A number of distinctive land features define the borders of this region: the Akhurian River is located to the west of Gyumri and acts as a natural border between Turkey and Armenia, Mt. Aragats – the highest mountain in the country – defines the southeastern edges of the region, and the Bazruma and Javakh mountain ranges establish the eastern border. Overall, Shirak is a complex mountain region consisting of swamps and marshlands, large tracts of semi-desert conditions, and large pockets of forested alpine meadows.

Over the centuries, the second largest city in Shirak has been known by numerous names: Kumayri, Alexandrapol, Leninakan, and Gyumri. The ctiy’s architecture is the major repository of its long and rich history. The city is full of parks, promenades, and fountains, and many buildings are notable for their use of indigenous red and black tuff. Despite political turmoil, natural disasters, and economic development, the city remains full of historic structures. At an elevation of 1,529 meters/5,016 feet, Gyumri offers a welcome relief from the smog, dust, and heat of Yerevan.