Lchashen-Metsamor culture (Armenian: Լճաշեն-մեծամորյան մշակույթ) is an archeological culture of the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age (1500-700 BC) in the South Caucasus. It was mainly spread in areas of present-day Armenia.[1] Lchashen-Metsamor pottery was also found in the Agri Province of Turkey and in southern Georgia.[2]
Description
A specific grooved pottery is associated with this culture.[3] The construction of widespread cyclopean fortresses at the end of the Bronze Age and cities,[4] indicate population growth and urbanization in the territory of Armenia.
A number of bronze items, such as bronze belts, have been discovered at Lchashen-Metsamor sites.[5] A fully preserved four-wheeled chariot was found at Lchashen.[6]
Categorization
Archaeologists have divided the Lchashen-Metsamor culture into five main stages.[7]
Late Bronze Age - LM 1,2,3
Early Iron Age - LM 4.5
The sixth stage, which arises from the local synthesis of Urartian culture, has been left out.
Archaeologists connect the Lchashen-Metsamor culture with the Etiuni tribal union attested in Urartian cuneiform.[8][9][10]
Later history
The end of the culture begans in the 8th century BC when Argishti crossed the Araxes River with his army. Following the appearance of Urartian culture in the region, a syncretic Lchashen-Metsamor VI layer emerged.
Paleogenetics
An article by Damgaard (2018) dedicated to the genetic study of ancient inhabitants of the Eurasian steppes published the ancient DNA of two people from Lchashen burials. Samples included Y-DNA I2a2b-L596 and Mitochondrial DNA HV0a and J1b1a.[11]
^Sagona, Antonio (2012). "Remarks on the Iron Age of Eastern Anatolia". In Çilingiroğlu, Altan; Sagona, A. G. (eds.). Anatolian Iron Ages 7: The Proceedings of the Seventh Anatolian Iron Ages Colloquium Held at Edirne, 19-24 April 2010. Peeters Press. pp. 253–268. ISBN978-90-429-2562-5.
^Smith, Adam T. (1 January 1999). "Late Bronze/Early Iron Age Fortresses of the Ararat and Shirak Plains, Armenia: Typological Gonsiderations". Ancient Civilizations from Scythia to Siberia. 5 (3): 73–97. doi:10.1163/157005799X00133.
^Avetisyan, Pavel; Bobokhyan, Arsen (2008). "The Pottery Traditions of the Armenian Middle to Late Bronze Age 'Transition' in the Context of Bronze and Iron Age Periodization". In Rubinson, Karen Sydney; Sagona, A. G (eds.). Ceramics in transitions: Chalcolithic through Iron Age in the highlands of the Southern Caucasus and Anatolia. Peeters. pp. 123–184. ISBN978-90-429-1998-3.
^Avetisyan, Pavel; Bobokhyan, Arsen (2012). "Archaeology of Armenia in a Regional Context". In Аветисян, Паркев; Բոբոխյան, Արսեն (eds.). Archaeology of Armenia in Regional Context: Proceedings of the International Conference Dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography Held on September 15-17, 2009 in Yerevan. Gitutyun. pp. 7–20. ISBN978-5-8080-0969-1.
^Çifçi, Ali (2017). "Control of Capital in Urartu: Economic Resources and Movement of Commodities". The Socio-Economic Organisation of the Urartian Kingdom. pp. 28–186. doi:10.1163/9789004347595_003. ISBN978-90-04-34759-5.
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