Yeghegis Jewish Cemetery

"The Yeghegis Cemetery, discovered in 1997, played a crucial role in understanding the ethnicities of medieval Vayots Dzor. A total of 64 tombstones provided evidence of a Jewish community that existed in the region during the 13th-14th centuries. These Jews were primarily engaged in trade, craftsmanship, and other social activities. The discovered tombstones contain many ornamental designs connected to ancient Jewish art. It is believed that Jews settled in the area after the Mongol invasions, as the rule of Mongol khans in Armenia created relatively tolerant conditions for religious minorities. The inscriptions on the tombstones confirm that members of the upper class, including Jewish noble families, lived here."