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Sights of Armenia Artsakh

Artsakh State Museum of History and Geology

  • RegionArtsakh
  • Distance from Yerevan172.1 km
  • TypeMuseum

Artsakh

About this place

The Artsakh State Museum of History and Geology was located in Stepanakert, the capital of the former Republic of Artsakh, at 4 Saint David Street. It was one of the first museums established in the region, founded during the Soviet era, and its exhibitions reflected the archaeological and ethnographic heritage of Artsakh, following the Soviet “provincialism” museum model. The museum was founded in 1939, inspired by the accidental discovery of a treasure in 1938 in the southern part of Stepanakert, near the village of Krkzhan. In response, Yuri Hummel, director of the Khanlar Museum of Geology, was dispatched to conduct excavations. The findings from burial sites N102 and N103 near the village became the foundation for the museum’s collection. Since September 2023, Stepanakert has been under Azerbaijani occupation, following the final phase of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Interesting

facts about Artsakh State Museum of History and Geology

  1. Despite operating under Soviet Azerbaijan's cultural policy, the museum succeeded in preserving and unifying valuable archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, becoming one of the most important cultural centers in Artsakh. During the post-independence period, the museum’s collection expanded to over 50,000 objects. In the 2000s, its holdings grew further thanks to excavations in Shushi, Keren, Handaberd, and other sites, as well as through active collection of ethnographic materials.

  2. After the outbreak of the 1988 national-liberation movement, the museum’s permanent exhibition was revised. A new section was added in the final hall, dedicated to the Artsakh Liberation War.

  3. The exhibition followed a clear structure: it began with artistic dioramas of Artsakh’s natural environment, followed by the archaeological section.

Weather in Artsakh

The high season in Armenia lasts for a long time due to the pleasant climate conditions. Warm days in Armenia start in March and last until late autumn; winter is usually snowless and not long. The high precipitation season is variable. The tourist season for Geological Museum of Stepanakert depends on the weather conditions.

Artsakh State Museum of History and Geology

FAQ

Where was the Artsakh State Museum of History and Geology?

The museum was located in Stepanakert, the capital of the former Republic of Artsakh, at 4 Saint David Street. Since September 2023 Stepanakert has been under Azerbaijani control.

When and how was the museum founded?

It was founded in 1939, inspired by the accidental discovery of a treasure in 1938 in the southern part of Stepanakert, near the village of Krkzhan. Yuri Hummel, director of the Khanlar Museum of Geology, was sent to excavate, and the finds from burials N102 and N103 became the foundation of the collection.

What did the museum's collection include?

Its exhibitions presented the archaeological and ethnographic heritage of Artsakh, following the Soviet “provincialism” museum model. After independence the collection grew to over 50,000 objects, and in the 2000s it was enriched by excavations in Shushi, Keren, Handaberd and other sites and by the active collecting of ethnographic materials.

How was the exhibition arranged?

The exhibition began with artistic dioramas of Artsakh's natural environment, followed by the archaeological section. After the national-liberation movement of 1988 it was revised, and a new section dedicated to the Artsakh Liberation War was added in the final hall.

Artsakh

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Jermuk Waterfall, Джермук, Армения

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Artsakh State Museum of History and Geology, Armenia
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