Ashkharbek Kalantar

Ashkharbek Kalantar (11 February 1884, Ardvi, Armenia – June 1942) was an Armenian archaeologist, historian. He had important role in founding of archaeology in Armenia. Born in Armenian noble families of Loris-Melikov and Arghutians (from maternal side), he graduated St.Petersburg University in 1911 under Nicholas Marr. He was appointed a Fellow of the Archaeological Institute, of Russian Imperial Archaeological Society and the keeper of the Asiatic Museum in St.Petersburg.

Ani

Already being a student, since 1907 Kalantar participated the archeological excavations of Nicholas Marr in Armenian medieval capital Ani, in 1914 was appointed the head of the XIIIth Ani Archaeological excavation campaign. In 1918 he organized the evacuation of about 6000 items from the Ani Museum, which are currently in State Museum of Armenian History in Yerevan. He was the last archaeologist to describe monuments, mostly in Ani region, which did not survive since 1920s.

Ancient irrigation systems and Urartian inscriptions

In 1910s Kalantar studied the ancient monuments in Lori and Surmalu region, the basilica in Zor, headed the excavations in medieval monastery Vanstan (Imirzek) in Armenia and revealed its epigraphic materials. In 1917 with Nicholas Adontz he participated the II Van Archaeological expedition and studied the Urartian inscriptions there.

In early 1930s he revealed the existence of a pre-Urartian irrigation system on Mt.Aragats and Geghama range in Armenia and studied the rock carved figures, also published articles on the Urartian inscriptions found in Armenia.

Founding of the Yerevan State University and of the Commission of Ancient Monuments

In 1918-1919 he lectured in Transcaucasian university in Tiflis, in 1919 he becomes one of seven founding members of the Yerevan State University, the founder of the chair of archaeology and orientology.

With architect Alexander Tamanian and painter Martiros Saryan he was one of founders of the Commission of Ancient Monuments in Armenia. During 1920-1938 he organized over 30 expeditions in Armenia. In 1931 Kalantar directed the excavations in Old Vagharshapat. In 1930s with Alexander Tamanian acted to save the two basilica churches, Katoghike and Poghos-Petros in Yerevan (both were finally destroyed by the ruling regime).

In 1935 Kalantar was appointed as the member of the Council of Armenian branch of Soviet Academy of Sciences.

Publications

He authored over 80 articles; the English translations of his selected works were published in 3 volumes in 1994, 1999, 2004 by Recherches et Publications, Paris-Neuchâtel, and in Armenian in Yerevan, 2007.

American Journal of Archaeology (AJA 100, 638, 1996) reviewing Kalantar's volume writes:

"While Lehmann-Haupt and Marr are often credited with sparking investigations into the history and prehistory of eastern Anatolia and southern Transcaucasia, this compilation* of selected writings and photographs of Ashkharbek Kalantar (1884-1942) makes a persuasive case that it was he who most thoroughly shaped archaeology in the Armenian highlands."

"Kalantar's life and work provide a testimony to the enduring importance of the Armenian highlands to world history and prehistory..."

The arrest by the regime

In 1938 Kalantar was arrested by the regime, among other professors, as an ‘enemy of nation’ (‘the professors process’); the precise date and place of his death in Russia are unknown.

The bronze bust of Ashkharbek Kalantar in Yerevan State University.

The memory

The bust of Ashkharbek Kalantar was opened in February 2015 in the entrance hall of Yerevan State University.

Later publications

From Kalantar's documents

External links