Berdavan

Name: Berdavan
Monument type: Fortress
Region: Tavush Province
Periods: Medieval

Name: Berdavan

Other nomination: Galinjakar

Monument type: Fortress, church

Region: Tavush

Community: Noyemberyan

Residence: 1.6 km east of Berdavan village

Location: Triangular hill dominating a vast plain, right side of the Koghbajur river.

Preservation: The height of the castle walls in the western and southwestern parts currently reaches up to 5.5 m, and in the eastern and north-eastern parts up to more than 10.5 m (the heights of the pyramids are the same as those of the walls). The walls of the church are almost completely preserved, the roof is missing.

Coordinates: 410 12′ 13.60N 45o01’13”45E

Altitude: 665 m

Era and chronology: According to the historical sources, the castle was founded in the High Middle Ages, the XII century. However, based on the construction techniques of the current structure and a number of other details, the researchers refer the now standing castle to the Late Middle Ages, the XVII century: the castle underwent a radical reconstruction in a late period.

Berdavan: Stones Radiating Strength

As you stand before the ancient fortress of Berdavan, you are not merely gazing upon a structure of stone and mortar; you are stepping into a living tapestry of history. This stronghold, perched atop a triangular hill, has borne witness to centuries of human triumphs, trials, and the relentless passage of time.

As you explore its walls, traverse its shadowed passages, and trace the intricate details etched into its stones, allow yourself to become a part of its glorious narrative. Listen closely to the echoes of history that still resonate here, and let the stones of Berdavan speak to you of a time long past.

Berdavan, also known as Galinjakar, stands as a sentinel of time, overlooking a vast plain and nestled beside the Koghbajur river. The name “Galinjakar” holds a local dialect’s secret, as “galin” means “dense” or “many.” It’s apt for a place adorned with so many stones, each with a story to tell.

In its heyday, the castle was a formidable fortress, its walls rising like a guardian’s embrace. Today, these walls still bear the weight of ages, reaching heights of up to 5.5 meters in the west and southwest, and astonishingly, over 10.5 meters in the east and northeast. It’s as if the very stones yearn to tell stories of the centuries they’ve witnessed. The church within, though roofless now, proudly stands, its walls bearing witness to the passage of time.

While historical sources point to its inception in the XII century, the construction techniques and intricate details now lead researchers to place this castle in the Late Middle Ages, the XVII century, after undergoing significant reconstruction.

The architecture of Berdavan is a marvel in itself. The castle walls, shaped like an equilateral triangle with rounded corners, wrap around an inner courtyard where buildings once stood. Eleven semi-circular pyramids brace the outer walls, providing both support and an imposing presence. The walls themselves boast inward-widening windows, perfect for keen observers in their time, and niches that once housed the roof logs of adjacent structures.

A single entrance on the western side, with a distinctive brick arrow-shaped end, served as the main gateway to this castle. A secret underground passage once led to the valley on the northeast side, a hidden passage that hinted at the strategic brilliance of its builders.

The church, located a mere 200 meters southwest of the fortress, is a work of art in its own right. A rectangular prayer hall divided into three naves by arches, it features a high stage and a deep semi-circular tabernacle in the eastern part. A wooden hall once graced its entrance, with containers on either side, now remnants of a bygone era. Its archaeological significance extends beyond its walls. The medieval cemetery nearby is adorned with tombstones and intricate khachkars, each a testament to the culture and spirituality of its time.

Among the remnants found here are pieces of cast iron, pottery fragments, pottery vessels, and even a metal axe.
These remnants speak of daily life and the tools of survival, evoking a sense of connection to the people who once called
Berdavan home.

FACTS

❈ Berdavan, also known as Galinjakar, is a historic fortress with a rich past.

❈ The castle’s ancient walls, towering over 10.5 meters, bear witness to centuries of history.

❈ Its construction dates back to the XVII century after significant reconstruction.

❈ The fortress features unique architecture, including semi-circular pyramids and strategic design.

❈ Nearby, a well-preserved church and medieval cemetery reveal insights into the culture and daily life of the past inhabitants.

🔍 Research history

The fortress is mentioned by Georgian historians under the name of Galinjakar in relation to the wars waged by the Georgian king David the Builder (1089-1125) against the Seljuks. In 1983 the territory of the fortress was cleaned and enhanced, the upper parts of the walls and towers were demolished and rebuilt, the two north-eastern towers were restored.

🧱 Archaeological description

Location
Now it is located 1.6 km east of Berdavan village. The fortress and the church are located not far from the old village with only traces left. The old village was abandoned at the end of the XIX century caused by unfavorable living conditions. The medieval cemetery with tombstones and various samples of khachkars is around the church.

Architecture
The walls of the castle are preserved all around. They have a shape of an equilateral (about 20m long) triangle with rounded corners, with an almost east-western orientation. There were likely to be buildings (dwellings, warehouses, etc.) attached to the walls, around the inner courtyard. The walls are externally supported by 11 semi-circular pyramids – two with a radius of about 2 m are placed in the corners of the western wall, the others with a radius of 1.2 – 1.5 m – along the border of the wall enclosing the eastern half of the castle, where the wall is unusually high and faces the open field. The thickness of the walls is 1.2m. There are inward widening windows in the high parts of the walls, between the pyramids, with a 12-15 cm opening, which served for observation purposes. 1m below them, there are round niches in the walls, where the roof logs of the platform or buildings attached to the wall once entered. The only entrance with 1 m width, is on the western side, with a brick arrow-shaped end. South of the entrance, in the corner, there are steps in the thickness of the wall. The castle had an underground passage leading to the valley on the northeast side, the original section of which is preserved in the lower part of the eastern tower. The tower is hollow, the others are dense; it has a high door leading inside, from which people descended to the secret passage. The fortress is built with rough yellowish felsite, lime mortar. Exceptions are the lower rows of walls, as well as the edges of the openings, which are hewn and relatively large. Sculptured fragments belonging to an earlier period are placed in the walls.

The church is located 200 m south-west of the fortress, in the area of the medieval cemetery. The rectangular prayer hall (12.55 mx 7.75 m) was divided into three naves by a pair of arches, the middle one of which ended with a high stage and a deep semi-circular tabernacle in the eastern part. On its both sides there are rectangular repositories covered with a semi-cylindrical vault. The only entrance to the church is from the northern facade facing the fortress. There is one container each on both sides of the entrance, indicating that there was once a wooden hall in front of the entrance. The walls are built with semi-finished yellowish felsite small stones, and the arches, the walls – with large hewn pieces of the similar stone. According to its design and construction techniques, the church dates back to the Late Middle Ages.

🔨 Findings

Pieces of cast iron, remains of pottery, pottery vessels, and a metal axe were found while cleaning the fortress.

🌍 Significance

Berdavan was one of the defensive structures of Gugark province and due to its strategic position, it was always in the hub of attention and care of the royal and government representatives.

📜 Traditional legends

The name of the castle Galinjakar is explained as follows: as “galin” means dense/ many in the dialect of the region, Galinjakar is explained as a place with many stones.

📚 Sources

Literature

Georgian sources about Armenia and Armenians 1955, compiled by L. Melikset-Beck, vol. G, Yerevan, Armenian Academy of Sciences SSR ed., 345 pages.
L. Barseghyan, Zh. Khachatryan 1962, About the two fortresses of Medieval Armenia, Record of the Social Sciences of the Armenian USSR Academy of Sciences, pp. 71-76.
Shakhkyan 1986, Lori. Stone-cut pages of history, Yerevan, “Armenia”, 184 pages.