Ughtasar Petroglyphs
Armenia · Asia
'Goat-letter' stones scattered around a volcanic crater lake three thousand metres up
Age
~3,000–6,000 yrs
Period
Chalcolithic to Iron Age
Setting
Open-air
Art form
Petroglyphs
Discovered
1970
Status
Open (Summer 4×4 Access)
On the slopes of Mount Ughtasar in Armenia's Syunik highlands, more than a thousand dark volcanic boulders around a crater lake carry pecked images — bezoar goats, hunters, spirals and sun-signs — known in Armenian tradition as 'itsagir', goat letters. The main body of carvings spans the Chalcolithic to the Iron Age, and snow keeps the site sealed except in high summer.
Gallery
Notable Features
- ◦ Crater-lake boulder field
- ◦ Bezoar goat panels
- ◦ 'Itsagir' sign stones
Depicted Subjects
GoatsHunting ScenesSpiralsSun Symbols
Plan a Visit
AccessThis cave can be visited.
Sources & Further Reading
Hours & prices change — always confirm on the official site before travelling.
Photographs via Wikimedia Commons — image credits. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.