Karahunge: The Armenian Stonehenge

Karahunge is a very unique and almost unknown megalithic site in Armenia that may have had a much bigger regional influence than previously thought or understood. Research and understanding of its mysteries are incomplete. The promotion and preservation of the site are nonexistent. 

The Stonehenge is a marvel of the ancient world, situated in the Salisbury plain west of London, England. It is the most famous megalithic site on earth and fully deserves its fame by the sheer size of the stones and their incredible technique of construction for their age. Like other similar sites all around Europe, it was sacred place for meeting, praying, burial, observing the celestial movements and praising the supernatural and the mystical.

The very venerable Stonehenge is in a sense unique in the world, but it may owe a big debt to an obscure Armenian megalithic site called the Karahunge. Quite simply, Karahunge and Stonehenge have identical names: KaraHunge / StoneHenge.

"Kar"means "Stone", in Armenian, and "Hunge" (Հունչ/Հնչել) means "Sound" or "Buzz". Amazing but true, Stonehenge may owe his name to the much older Karahunge site in Armenia. It is a striking and incredible similarity, to say the least, for two prehistoric and very distant sites.

The Karahunge observatory at full functionality! The sight is primitive, rough compared to some other megalithic sites but still very romantic, pretty and mysterious.

Here are some theories: "Hunge" or "Henge" (as in Stonehenge) has no clear meaning in English or its preceding languages although some suggest it may mean hinge, as is the door hinge. Some theories claim that Stān means "stone", and either "hencg" meaning hinge (because the stone lintels hinge on the upright stones) or "hen(c)en" meaning "hanging". It is a fact that the upper horizontal tier of the Stonehenge stones sit in hidden pointed parts of the vertical stones as if acting like anchoring and stabilizing hinges. But the name Stonehenge itself may be much older than the introduction of the word hinge into modern day England.

Still one can not explain how Karahunge/Stonehenge have got identical names. It seems unlikely that it is just a simple coincidence, and all this enigma makes for a very curious and intriguing case of these megalithic sites. Karahunge (Քարահունչ) is thought to be 7500 years old while its English homonym Stonehenge is around 3500 years "younger" at 4000-5000 years (depending on the successive long construction period of the stones).

Karahunge vaulted tombs called "dromos" and "cromlechl": Naturally these tombs are completely empty since a very long time. God knows who and what was buried there thousands of years ago...

Moss and lichens covered Karahunge stones. These specifically angled carved holes were most certainly for astronomical observations and rituals. The holes may be much "younger" than the stones themselves, judging from their rather clean and non weathered shape.

Karahunge, or what remains of it, is made of rather small basalt stones. The present shape of the stones is almost random and the overall effect less than tremendous but still pretty impressive. But, lest we forget, Stonehenge is 3500 years "younger" than Karahunge and we all know what that means in terms of progress in human history. Let's look at the last 35 years to understand the impact of 3500 years!

Karahunge literally translates as "Stones with Voice" or "Stones that have a Sound". It is also known as Zorats Karer (Զորաց Քարեր) in Armenia, that could be translated as "Powerful Stones" or the "Stones of the Powerful". Both these names are currently used, but the official name remains Karahunge. The site is situated at an altitude of 1,750 meters, near the town of Sisian, 220 kilometers south-east of the capital Yerevan. It is located on a rocky promontory, a prominent mass of land or hill which overlooks lower lying land and therefore easier to defend. The nearby town of Sisian (Սիսեան) is a small provincial agglomeration of under 20,000. It is situated at the narrowest point of Republic of Armenia proper sandwiched between Artsakh-Karabagh and Naxichevan (see map below).

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Karahunge is situated just north of Sisian, on the narrowest region of Armenia proper sandwiched between the Armenian autonomous region of Artsakh- Karabagh to the east and the Azeri Naxichevan. Note that ''Xankandi'' on the map actually refers to Stepanakert, the Capital city of Artsakh

Karahunge was mainly used as a large necropolis from the Middle Bronze Age to the Iron Age. Huge stone tombs are found there and around, dating from these periods. Later, possibly in Hellenistic-Roman times, it is thought to have served as a place of refuge in times of social unrest or attack. A defensive wall of rocks and loam was built, and vertical rocks were used for reinforcements. Of this city wall only the upright standing rocks still remain (see photo below).

The remaining rocks of the original Karahunge defensive city walls. Note the numbering of the stones.

Karahunge site today is made up of hundreds (some say 223 in total) of vertically standing basalt stones of which 84 stones. The total territorial area is approximately 7 hectares. Many of these stones have smooth angled holes of 4 to 5cm in diameter, the angles of the holes being directed at different points on the horizon and outer space. The age of Karahunge has been estimated to be 7500 years or older (VI millennium BC). It is believed that the main deity celebrated there was Ari, the main prehistoric Armenian God of the period, as well as possibly other lesser Gods.

A festival of colors and reflections: Each stone is marked with its number in a bizarre and primitive form of paint identification probably from the Soviet days. Some pointed stones may have been a focal point with its narrow tip to reflect light on other nearby stones.

We shall underline that in no way we are implying that Karahunge may be as "important" or impressive as Stonehenge as a megalithic site. That is not the case, nor the issue. In fact, some of the Stonehenge stones are up to 7m and weigh 50 tons and mostly brought from specific quarries in Carmarthenshire in south west Wales. The distance from Carmarthenshire to Stonehenge is more than 110km, and the way these giant stones were moved to Stonehenge by land and sea is still a mystery and an incredible human accomplishment by itself.

Karahunge is more modest in sheer size, but it surely deserves a lot of interest. It is somehow unknown even among the general Armenian population and it rarely figures in brochures or books. We do not have official statistics, but the number of visitors to Karahunge is probably insignificant. The tourist accommodations near the site, the appropriate landscaping, signage and documentation are almost nonexistent to encourage more visitors. A site pretty much abandoned despite a new dynamic and flourishing tourism industry in Armenia. 

Similar prehistoric megalithic stone structures exist all around Europe and beyond from Sweden to Russia. Menhirs, Dolmens, burial mound and barrows, Cromlech (stone chambers), and other types of prehistoric structures are highly appreciated everywhere they are found . Most of these sites are Neolithic (New Stone Age) 5000 BC and Bronze age 3000-2000BC and younger. In its style and form, Karahunge seems closer to another English megalithic site at Avebury, not far from Stonehenge. But somehow it is the famous Stonehenge that shares the same name with Karahunge which lies almost 4000km away, in a remote mountainous region in the Armenian Syunik (Սիւնիք) region!

Karahunge "Ghost Town": a panorama worthy of a scary Hallowe'en movie.

Karahunge may or may not have given his name to the Stonehenge, but this issue may turn out to be more than just speculation. Some (but not enough) scientific research has been done in Karahunge, but the gathered information and knowledge are far from being complete or satisfactory. A lot more research is needed in order to unlock the magnitude of Karahunge's regional influence and details about these Armenian ancestors who built it some 70 centuries ago.

Is Karahunge and the nearby other bronze age sites a priority in the conversation efforts in Armenia? The answer of course is a "No". Countless churches, monasteries and Stone Cross Khatchkars are in rather pitiful conditions too and need immediate attention. Karahunge seems to be at the bottom of the "To Do" or rather "Forgotten" list.

Stonehenge in Wiltshere, England is surely one of Britain's and the World's greatest icons. Since its construction some 5000 years ago, it has symbolized mystery, power, worship and endurance.Most probably it was a pagan a temple made for the worship of ancient deities, and a sacred burial site and an astronomical observatory. Like the nearby Avebury site, Stonehenge is a U.N.E.S.C.O. World Heritage Site of the "Highest order".

Karahunge is unique to the region, and is worthy of much more attention and care than its present state of total abandon. It deserves a minimum of effort, recognition and restoration from both the Armenian and the International communities, specialized agencies and Foundations.

Unfortunately, I doubt that anything of substance will happen anytime soon.

Note:

I modestly dedicate this article about Karahunge to all Armenians around the World who courageously preserve their identity and their very old and unique culture. If these 7000 years old rocks are any indication, History and Culture are built over a long long period of time. And we all carry the burden to protect them against all odds and challenges.

© Krikor Tersakian Oct.13, 2009