Carahunge, also known as Zorats Karer (Armenian: Զորաց Քարեր), Dik-Dik Karer (Armenian: Դիք-Դիք Քարեր),[2] Tsits Karer (Armenian: Ցից Քարեր) and Karenish (Armenian: Քարենիշ), is a prehistoric archaeological site near the town of Sisian in the Syunik Province of Armenia. It is also often referred to in international tourist lore as the “Armenian Stonehenge”.
The Carahunge monument consists of the central circle, the north arm, the south arm, the north–east alley, the chord across the circle, and separated standing stones. The site is rich with stone settings, burial cists and standing stones (menhirs). In total, 223 stones have been identified. There are also many unnumbered stones and fragments.
The stones are basalt (andesite), eroded by time and covered with moss and lichen of many colours. The heights of the stones above ground-level varies from 0.5 to 3 m, and their weights range up to 10 tons.
About 80 of the stones feature a circular hole, although only 37 of those stones, with 47 holes, are still standing. They have been of interest to Russian and Armenian archaeoastronomers who have suggested that the standing stones could have been used for astronomical observation. Seventeen of the stones were associated with observations of sunrise or sunset at the solstices and equinoxes, and 14 with the lunar extremes.[6]
The inner surfaces of the holes bored into some of the stones are much better preserved than the outer surfaces. Since the holes are relatively unweathered they may not be prehistoric in origin, so conjectures about their purpose must remain provisional.
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What to do in Syunik
Historically, Syunik was one of the 15 provinces of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia. At various times, the region of present-day Syunik was also known by other names such asSyunia, Sisakan and Zangezur. However, the present-name of the province is derived from the ancient Armenian Siunia dynasty, who were the Naχaarars (governors) of thehistoric proivnce of Syunik since the 1st century.