Tigranakert Archaeological Museum

Region

Artsakh

Distance from Yerevan

339.7 km

Type

Museum

The Tigranakert Archaeological Museum was located in the Askeran region of the Republic of Artsakh, along the Askeran–Martakert highway. It was dedicated to the study of the city of Tigranakert, founded in the 1st century BC by Tigran II the Great. The museum was established by the initiative of the Artsakh Republic’s Department of Tourism, inside a renovated 18th-century fortress, where exhibition halls were arranged. Since 2005, excavations at Tigranakert were carried out by the Artsakh expedition team of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. The museum officially opened on May 30, 2010, marked by a significant cultural event. Exhibits included ancient and medieval ceramics, glassware, stone crosses, jewelry, and a clay disc with an Armenian inscription, all discovered during the excavations. The museum played a crucial role in Artsakh’s cultural policy, becoming the first example of a permanent museum established adjacent to an active excavation site. During the 2020 war, Tigranakert came under enemy shelling. The museum building remained intact, but the surrounding area was damaged. The royal springs park was turned into a cooking area. Fortunately, the museum's collection was evacuated in advance and is now kept in a secure location. The Tigranakert Museum became a symbolic center not only for historical research, but also for the preservation of identity, memory, and national dignity.