Ancient Armenian Stone Circles (Karahunj)

Buried in the rugged highlands of Armenia lies a remarkable archaeological enigma: the Karahunj stone circles, often dubbed the “Armenian Stonehenge.” Dating back over 7,500 years, these ancient monoliths are scattered across an expansive 7-hectare site near the village of Sisian, in the Syunik Province, and they showcase the ingenuity and astronomical knowledge of a civilization long past.

Karahunj features more than 200 standing stones, each meticulously placed and some weighing as much as 10 tons. The tallest stones soar up to 3.5 meters (about 11.5 feet) high, adorned with intricate carvings that beckon archaeologists to unravel their mysteries. The most astonishing aspect of these stones is the presence of over 40 stone disks—called “garnets”—with tiny circular holes, believed by researchers to be aligned with the stars, marking significant astronomical events that likely held spiritual significance for the ancient inhabitants.

The site is believed to be more than just a monument; it may have served as an early observatory, allowing its builders to track the movements of celestial bodies with impressive precision. Archaeological studies have suggested that the stones align with sunrise and sunset at solstices and equinoxes, indicating a complex understanding of the cosmos that predates many other famous ancient sites by millennia.

In 2004, a team of geologists and astronomers conducted extensive research at Karahunj, unveiling its potential as a sophisticated prehistoric observatory akin to Stonehenge, igniting curiosity and debates about ancient civilizations’ capabilities across the globe. As the sun rises over Armenia, the shadows of these ancient stones whisper secrets of a time when humans first sought to understand their place among the stars.