Three kilometers away from Sisian is the evidence of ancient astronomical culture in Armenia, the stone observatory of Karahunj: hundreds of huge vertical stones with accurate through-holes arranged in a certain order on a 3 hectare area.

The results of two expeditions made in 1994 and 1995 under the leadership of academician P. Heruni, Director of Scientific-Research Institute of Radio-physical Measurement, allowed to make a conclusion that this cyclopean construction served as a temple for the Deity of Sun, an accurate ancient astronomical instrument and a major university center. It was built 6000 years ago and had been used for 4000 years until the adoption of Christianity.

The name of Karahunj sounds similar to Stonehenge and is translated as "singing or sounding stones". Based on the comparison of the Armenian observatory with the ancient stone construction in the north of Scotland, Karenish (kare nish in Armenian means stone sign), as well as with the stone construction in the north of France, Karnak (1876 BC) - written and pronounced similar to Karnish - and Newgrenge in Ireland (2500-2400 BC), P. Heruni came to the conclusion that the original source for this ancient astronomical culture that reached so far is Armenia.

To see ancient astrological observatory Zorats Karer take a tour!