Mine Industry Versus Culture?

What would happen to the Teghut archeological monuments?

“Daraqoduki hogher” – on this site archeologist excavated 2 wine-presses with 7 well-preserved large wine jars, and 12 tombs.

Souren Hobosyan, candidate of history, chief staff member of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography, during the excavation works.

 Eighteen complexes of archeological monuments dating back to various periods of time have been encompassed within the territory of a future mining site.  These monuments, having great significance to the history and culture of Armenia, are being shoved aside by the mine industry. 

 Two years ago, by decision of the Armenian government, some areas adjoining Teghut and Shnogh villages were put at the disposal of the Armenian Copper Programme /ACP/ for exploitation. In 2001 ACP received, on a competitive basis, a 25-year license to exploit the Teghut mine. According to the Programme developed by the mining company, 357 hectares of forest would be logged to facilitate annual export of 7 million tons of ore from the mines rich with copper and molybdenum, which would make an important contribution to Armenia’s economic development. The government, upon giving the go-ahead to the private company to establish Teghut mine, announced the “Exploitation of Teghut copper and molybdenum mine” to be of high priority. Mining opponents have initiated a movement for the protection of Teghut, which involves dozens of NGOs. They have declared over and again that the “high national interests” announced by the government in reality have nothing to do with the interests of the state and the people, but merely serve the financial interests of the private company. They have also pointed out that the Armenian government, by pursuing a boost to the economy, has given its consent to destruction of a forest that is rich with biodiversity, and for relocating archeological monuments. The government’s approval for the mine also includes provision for researching the monuments situated in that area and deciding their future fate before full-scale mining works start.

 The Minister of Culture of the Republic of Armenia, by order N 416-A of 4 July 2008 approved the “Programme of activities ensuring protection and safety of the historic and cultural monuments located in the Teghut areas intended for the mine exploitation”. In August 2008 excavations got underway on the site of the mine. The Armenian government, represented by the Ministry of Culture, as well as the ACP Company, has declared that no monument would be destroyed.

 The Richness of Teghut

 Teghut is beautiful not only for its dense and rich forest, which is gradually being cut down. Tombs and other archeological monuments have been found here as a result of the excavations started by the mining company, as decreed by the government. Twelve complexes of monuments have been added to Armenia’s official list of protected historically and culturally important monuments. Six other newly discovered sites, though not listed officially as historic are subject to preservation as defined by current legislation. Specialists in the field consider that there is a possibility of discovering new archeological monuments in this area. On the territory of the future mine there are historic and cultural monuments located tens of meters from each other – tombs dating back to different centuries, wine-presses filled with utensils. Excavations are on-going in four different locations of Teghut. Souren Hobosyan, candidate of history, chief staff member of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, heads up the excavation works. He described how archeologists uncovered a small chapel as belonging to a place called Boveri Khech which in local dialect means “metal working”. He also notes that the place has not been researched by archeologists. “Perhaps this construction dates back to the 16th or 17th century. However, some of the excavated artifacts suggest that the construction might be of earlier age”. Hobosyan says that the excavations would help to identify what cultural valuables characterize Teghut, what kind of people used to live there, and what was their occupation.     

 Only one church would be relocated

 According to Artyom Grigoryan, Head of the Agency on Preservation of Historic and Cultural Monuments of the Ministry of Culture, the Boveri Khech chapel would be moved, because it is situated just on the site of the planned mine tailing dump. Regarding the intended move S.Hobosyan states: “There is no sense in numbering all of the stones, moving them to another place and building the church again. The church can be constructed according to the same design”. He means that the stones are not wrought, since the church had been ruined more than once and the stones had been cracked. “Those patches are clear to see, there is no point in numbering the stones and building them again”.

Hrachik Marukyan, senior scientific researcher at the Lori provincial service for historic environment conservation of Armenia, also considers it to be senseless to relocate the church. Apart from the cornerstones, the stones of the door, windows, arch, pilaster, the whole wall masonry is polished, whereas 60% of the remaining fragments are assembled with unworked or semi-finished small broken stones, which, as a matter of fact, would be impossible to number, transport and build again. “Even if the church is relocated successfully, its historic value would be lost. Its value, as a museum piece, is determined also by the place where it is situated”. Hobosyan believes the tombs, discovered not far from the church, would not be preserved either. He said with regret that in the end they would remain under the tailing dump.    

 ACP promised to preserve all the monuments located on the mine site

This promise has its base in the statutory requirements of the Republic of Armenia. According to the law “On Preservation and Use of Historic and Cultural Immobile Monuments and Historic Environment,” the monuments should be preserved.  Any activities, which would distort the appearance of a monument and endanger its existence, are prohibited.  The law permits the use of monuments exclusively and only in accordance with their original purpose. According to the same law, “the use of a monument for economic and other purposes is permitted if the use conforms to the character of a monument, does not damage its safety, does not detract or pervert its historic, scientific or artistic value”. The law also allows construction works on the grounds of the monuments, if those works would not endanger the existence of those monuments. 

 According to Article 22 of the Law: “If performing construction, agricultural or similar works would threaten the preservation and safety of the monuments located on the site, before starting the works, activities ensuring the preservation and safety of the monuments are to be initiated by the works customer”.

  The Government of the Republic of Armenia also makes provisions for certain restrictions. According to a decision adopted as far back as 2002, “On approving procedures of the governmental registration, research, preservation, strengthening, repairing, restoration and use of historic and cultural immobile monuments,” those construction, agricultural, or similar works, as well as economic or food activities are prohibited on the territory where a monument is located, which do not conform to the original purpose of a monument. The decision determines that “Only activities focused on researching and preserving the monuments, organizing museums and exhibitions, as well as restoration and repairing activities contributing to the use of the monuments according to their original purpose, can be conducted on this territory”.  Hence, the government has obliged the mining company not to distort the monuments by its activities and to implement a programme for taking measures to preserve them. ACP has developed a list of activities for the preservation of the monuments and prospects for relocating some of them. According to information provided by ACP, the activities planned for monuments excavation and research would cover 24.9 hectares of the area. Gagik Arzumanyan, Executive Director of the ACP Company, gave his assurance that the company would follow the letter of the law and not one monument would be exposed to danger.

 “All activities should be coordinated with the authorized state body for the preservation of monuments, i.e. with the Ministry of Culture”, says Artyom Grigoryan, Head of the Agency for Preservation of Historic and Cultural Monuments of the Ministry of Culture.  On the site of Teghut mine conceded to the ACP Company, there are 17 complexes of the monuments, in addition to Boveri Khech chapel, which would remain within the industrial zone. Artyom Grigoryan and the responsible company representatives are convinced that the large-scale construction works in the Teghut mine and the ore processing would not destroy the monuments.

 “And if a new monument is uncovered it would also become an object liable to preservation”, – says Grigoryan. “If it were not for the pressure exerted by the environmentalists, we would not initiate the research of the monuments”, says Gagik Arzumanyan, Executive Director of the ACP company. He believes that the monuments would not stand in the way of the company’s work, and the company would not disturb the monuments’ existence.  

 A specialist in the field considers it impossible for the company to be as good as its word

 “But how?” – wonders Hrachik Marukyan, senior scientific researcher at the Lori provincial service of historic environment conservation of Armenia. “If the mine industry covers a large area, it would be really impossible to preserve all of the archeological sites, as the area is full of monuments. It would be like playing hop-scotch – to exploit the mine by jumping through the spaces.”  The researcher believes that at every turn a worker’s spade would damage the discovered but yet unexplored complexes of monuments.  He remembers that in 2008 the company caused damage to “Dzori gegh”, “Firmi bagh”, “Pijut”, “Kharatanoc”, “Brgadzor”, “Hosanc gomer” tomb fields and cemeteries, “Ghapur” old country place, “Chinu khech” – the pilgrimage shrine.  

 Professor Varsham Avetyan, candidate of history, a native of Shnogh, and the author of a number of articles about the Teghut archeological monuments, disagrees with the opinion that the monuments would be preserved if the territory is turned into an industrial mining zone.  “Even given the best will in the world, they will not be able to preserve the monuments. How can they preserve the monuments located in an area, where a water canal would be constructed? Would they canalize crookedly, to go round the monuments they meet at every turn? Therefore, they would have to discontinue the mine exploitation, or destroy the monuments”, – says the eighty-five year old scientist.  Avetyan believes that, as a result of the proposed relocation, the monuments would be preserved only physically, “In this case we lose the historic importance of a monument, which is defined by a place where a monument is situated”.

 The existing legislation of the Republic of Armenia allows relocation of monuments only in exceptional cases, and the decision on relocation is made by the government.

 “How they can they relocate a church, tombs?”, – asks professor Avetyan, – “Can you imagine the Egyptian pyramids being relocated? It is impossible and absurd”.

 According to A.Grigoryan, by the year of 2011 it is envisaged to complete the research of the Teghut monuments and the activities that will seal their fate. The ACP Company plans to build a museum just on the site of the mine exploitation, where the artifacts found from the excavations would be exhibited.

 Professor Varsham Avetyan is at a loss: “If the goal of the government is gaining profit, why not preserve the monuments, develop tourism and get profit? 

 It should be noted that in October 2009 the Armenian government declared the northern part of Lori Marz, where Teghut is situated, as a region for tourism development named “Northern Gates”.      

 This investigation is done with support from the Danish Association for Investigative Journalism/Scoop