The current study is the first attempt to investigate the problems of the early history of the Ar... more The current study is the first attempt to investigate the problems of the early history of the Armenian Highland in its close relationship with the geographical and climatic environment during the Early, Middle, and Late Holocene (10th-1st millennia BC) and the impact of global climatic changes on its past societies.
In the cuneiform Hittite texts there are attested 21 place-names located on the territory of Išuw... more In the cuneiform Hittite texts there are attested 21 place-names located on the territory of Išuwa. The investigation of archaeological sites of the region shows that their number was definitely incomparably more. In the article are collected place-names of Išuwa attested by name. The list is assorted according to their appearance in the texts. In numerous archaeological sites there have been registered cultural layers which cover a long period of functioning from the Early Iron Age to Middle Ages that testify in favor of continuity, regardless the ethnic affiliation of their population (Hinzuta-Andzit, Pališna-Palin, Tahhiša-Degiq).
Any discussion of the ethnic and political history of eastern Asia Minor, particularly the Upper ... more Any discussion of the ethnic and political history of eastern Asia Minor, particularly the Upper Euphrates area after the disintegration of the Hittite Empire should be studied in close relationship with the Mushki problem. Here this ethnic element was considerably active on both sides of the Euphrates during the XII-VIII centuries BC, which is well traced even in Northern Mesopotamia. In the article is discussed the problem of these tribes, their possible impact on the political and cultural history of Asia Minor and the Armenian Highland. These key problems are of utmost importance for the reconstruction of the history of the region. The Mushki had played the same role here as, for example, the so-called "Dorians" in Homeric and Classical Greece, Aramaeans in Neo-Assyrian Empire, etc., which until now remains fairly underestimated. The wide geographical area where in different sources appears the term Mushki (also in Western Asia Minor and in the Balkans) indicates that ...
The civilizational role of contact zones has been a subject of several fundamental studies in the... more The civilizational role of contact zones has been a subject of several fundamental studies in the past. Contact zone is a territory located between two or more political, economic and cultural regions experiencing constant interaction on different levels where due to their ‘clash’ new civilizational units are coming into existence. The societies in contact zones are characterised by criteria of two or more civilizations which eventually lead to the formation of the so-called ‘daughter-civilizations’. Such permanent contacts are triggering the formation of a cultural environment, which consequently extends towards the ‘barbarian periphery’, a civilizational factor, which may be traced actually in a great number of regions of the Old and New worlds.
In the article is discussed the “Torgomian” hypothesis of the Armenian ethnogenesis in regard to ... more In the article is discussed the “Torgomian” hypothesis of the Armenian ethnogenesis in regard to which until now scholars could not arrive at consensus. The study of various sources (written - cuneiform Hittite, Assyrian, Urartian, Hieroglyphic Luwian, classical Greek, linguistic, archaeological, mythological, etc.) points on the historical context in the history of the Armenian Highland which could fit our information drawn by Khorenatsi for the period of the First Haykides. Definitely, that period should be characterized by 1) the absence of considerably big political organization in the Highland, 2) the absence of more or less durative Assyrian control over several political entities in the south, 3) mobility of population.
BULLETIN OF THE INSTITUTE OF ORIENTAL STUDIES, 2022
At the end of the XIII century BC archaeological excavations carried out in various regions of Ea... more At the end of the XIII century BC archaeological excavations carried out in various regions of Eastern Turkey have revealed a complete cultural break, thus marking the end of the Late Bronze Age (LBA) and the rise of the Early Iron Age (EIA). The main peculiarity for the new culture is the appearance of the so-called "grooved ware" which was unearthed during the excavations at numerous sites on the territory of Išuwa, a political unit well attested by Hittite cuneiform texts. This same ware is known also from several sites located in different parts of Eastern Highlands (eastern Lake Van basin, Tillehöyük, Lidarhöyük, Erzurum, Iğdır, etc.). To date the causes of this phenomenon are not clear. Ch. Burney and V. Sevin were the first to assume that at least in the case of the Upper Euphrates basin the transition from LBA to EIA was the result of migration from Transcaucasia. Later this as-sumption was cast doubt on by other archaeologists. U. Müller suggested that the source ...
In academic studies and textbooks, the history of Armenia is entitled the "History of Armeni... more In academic studies and textbooks, the history of Armenia is entitled the "History of Armenians" or the "History of Armenian people". Like other modern nations such attitude could better fit those ethnic groups who never had statehood during their history. In the case of Armenia everything is turned upside down.
Научное восприятие истории народа и государства как результата его политического, экономического ... more Научное восприятие истории народа и государства как результата его политического, экономического и духовно-культурного развития и в целом цивилизации в значительной степени обусловлено той географической средой, где они зарождаются или по меньшей мере проходят основные этапы своего развития. Общество как составная часть конкретной экосистемы не может не ощущать ее непосредственное влияние, которое в определенной степени обуславливает существование и тенденции развития всех направлений его жизнедеятельности.
BULLETIN OF THE INSTITUTE OF ORIENTAL STUDIES, 2021
The cuneiform Hittite texts of the XV-XIV centuries BC contain important information dealing with... more The cuneiform Hittite texts of the XV-XIV centuries BC contain important information dealing with at least two different population movements happened along the Upper Euphrates region. First of these is fixed in the treaty signed between the Hittite king Tudḫaliyaš II (second part of the XV century BC) and Šunaššura, king of Kizzuwatna. The second migration took place later, during the reign of Tudḫaliyaš III. This second migration is of interest since in that population movement was involved a great number of people from different parts of Asia Minor. The study of several Hittite prayers compiled during the reign of Arnuwandaš I allow to assume that this second migration is definitely connected with continuous famine, hunger, plague and attacks of neighboring countries which could force the population of several regions to migrate first to Išuwa and from there to Ḫayaša.
The current study is the first attempt to investigate the problems of the early history of the Ar... more The current study is the first attempt to investigate the problems of the early history of the Armenian Highland in its close relationship with the geographical and climatic environment during the Early, Middle, and Late Holocene (10th-1st millennia BC) and the impact of global climatic changes on its past societies.
In the cuneiform Hittite texts there are attested 21 place-names located on the territory of Išuw... more In the cuneiform Hittite texts there are attested 21 place-names located on the territory of Išuwa. The investigation of archaeological sites of the region shows that their number was definitely incomparably more. In the article are collected place-names of Išuwa attested by name. The list is assorted according to their appearance in the texts. In numerous archaeological sites there have been registered cultural layers which cover a long period of functioning from the Early Iron Age to Middle Ages that testify in favor of continuity, regardless the ethnic affiliation of their population (Hinzuta-Andzit, Pališna-Palin, Tahhiša-Degiq).
Any discussion of the ethnic and political history of eastern Asia Minor, particularly the Upper ... more Any discussion of the ethnic and political history of eastern Asia Minor, particularly the Upper Euphrates area after the disintegration of the Hittite Empire should be studied in close relationship with the Mushki problem. Here this ethnic element was considerably active on both sides of the Euphrates during the XII-VIII centuries BC, which is well traced even in Northern Mesopotamia. In the article is discussed the problem of these tribes, their possible impact on the political and cultural history of Asia Minor and the Armenian Highland. These key problems are of utmost importance for the reconstruction of the history of the region. The Mushki had played the same role here as, for example, the so-called "Dorians" in Homeric and Classical Greece, Aramaeans in Neo-Assyrian Empire, etc., which until now remains fairly underestimated. The wide geographical area where in different sources appears the term Mushki (also in Western Asia Minor and in the Balkans) indicates that ...
The civilizational role of contact zones has been a subject of several fundamental studies in the... more The civilizational role of contact zones has been a subject of several fundamental studies in the past. Contact zone is a territory located between two or more political, economic and cultural regions experiencing constant interaction on different levels where due to their ‘clash’ new civilizational units are coming into existence. The societies in contact zones are characterised by criteria of two or more civilizations which eventually lead to the formation of the so-called ‘daughter-civilizations’. Such permanent contacts are triggering the formation of a cultural environment, which consequently extends towards the ‘barbarian periphery’, a civilizational factor, which may be traced actually in a great number of regions of the Old and New worlds.
In the article is discussed the “Torgomian” hypothesis of the Armenian ethnogenesis in regard to ... more In the article is discussed the “Torgomian” hypothesis of the Armenian ethnogenesis in regard to which until now scholars could not arrive at consensus. The study of various sources (written - cuneiform Hittite, Assyrian, Urartian, Hieroglyphic Luwian, classical Greek, linguistic, archaeological, mythological, etc.) points on the historical context in the history of the Armenian Highland which could fit our information drawn by Khorenatsi for the period of the First Haykides. Definitely, that period should be characterized by 1) the absence of considerably big political organization in the Highland, 2) the absence of more or less durative Assyrian control over several political entities in the south, 3) mobility of population.
BULLETIN OF THE INSTITUTE OF ORIENTAL STUDIES, 2022
At the end of the XIII century BC archaeological excavations carried out in various regions of Ea... more At the end of the XIII century BC archaeological excavations carried out in various regions of Eastern Turkey have revealed a complete cultural break, thus marking the end of the Late Bronze Age (LBA) and the rise of the Early Iron Age (EIA). The main peculiarity for the new culture is the appearance of the so-called "grooved ware" which was unearthed during the excavations at numerous sites on the territory of Išuwa, a political unit well attested by Hittite cuneiform texts. This same ware is known also from several sites located in different parts of Eastern Highlands (eastern Lake Van basin, Tillehöyük, Lidarhöyük, Erzurum, Iğdır, etc.). To date the causes of this phenomenon are not clear. Ch. Burney and V. Sevin were the first to assume that at least in the case of the Upper Euphrates basin the transition from LBA to EIA was the result of migration from Transcaucasia. Later this as-sumption was cast doubt on by other archaeologists. U. Müller suggested that the source ...
In academic studies and textbooks, the history of Armenia is entitled the "History of Armeni... more In academic studies and textbooks, the history of Armenia is entitled the "History of Armenians" or the "History of Armenian people". Like other modern nations such attitude could better fit those ethnic groups who never had statehood during their history. In the case of Armenia everything is turned upside down.
Научное восприятие истории народа и государства как результата его политического, экономического ... more Научное восприятие истории народа и государства как результата его политического, экономического и духовно-культурного развития и в целом цивилизации в значительной степени обусловлено той географической средой, где они зарождаются или по меньшей мере проходят основные этапы своего развития. Общество как составная часть конкретной экосистемы не может не ощущать ее непосредственное влияние, которое в определенной степени обуславливает существование и тенденции развития всех направлений его жизнедеятельности.
BULLETIN OF THE INSTITUTE OF ORIENTAL STUDIES, 2021
The cuneiform Hittite texts of the XV-XIV centuries BC contain important information dealing with... more The cuneiform Hittite texts of the XV-XIV centuries BC contain important information dealing with at least two different population movements happened along the Upper Euphrates region. First of these is fixed in the treaty signed between the Hittite king Tudḫaliyaš II (second part of the XV century BC) and Šunaššura, king of Kizzuwatna. The second migration took place later, during the reign of Tudḫaliyaš III. This second migration is of interest since in that population movement was involved a great number of people from different parts of Asia Minor. The study of several Hittite prayers compiled during the reign of Arnuwandaš I allow to assume that this second migration is definitely connected with continuous famine, hunger, plague and attacks of neighboring countries which could force the population of several regions to migrate first to Išuwa and from there to Ḫayaša.
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