Metsamor is one of the oldest cultural monuments on the territory of Armenia. In 1968, in order to protect this historical region, a museum-reserve was opened here.
Archaeological finds found on the territory of the ancient fortress indicate that in the Bronze Age (IV-II centuries BC) Metsamor was a rich and prosperous cultural center. The vast settlement occupied an area of 10.5 hectares. It was protected by a huge "Cyclopean" ("cyclopean") fortress.
A well-preserved ancient copper smelting system built in local rocks was also discovered in Metsamor.
Among the discovered objects, the most significant is the frog-scales of the Babylonian king Ulam Burariashi, made of agate (16 BC), as well as a sardonyx seal with an Egyptian hieroglyphic text belonging to another Babylonian king Kurigalz (15 BC). These findings indicate that since ancient times Metsamor has been a crossroads of trade routes passing through the Ararat Valley and connecting Near Asia with the North Caucasus. During the Early Iron Age, Metsamor was one of the most important administrative and cultural centers in the Ararat Valley.
In the 8th century BC, Metsamor was part of the Van Kingdom (Urartu). Life here also continued in the Middle Ages: until the 17th century. The best evidence of this is the discovered buildings, simple and glazed pottery, luxury items. More than 27,000 finds were collected and presented here.
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