Musical archeology: the most interesting finds

Musical archeology is one of the most interesting areas in archaeology. Art monuments and the study of musical culture can be studied by becoming acquainted with such a field as musical archeology.

Musical instruments, their history and development were of interest to many scientists around the world, including Armenian ones. Famous Armenian musicologist and violinist A.M. Tsitsikyan was interested in the emergence and development of musical stringed instruments in Armenia.

Armenia is an ancient country widely known for its musical culture. On the slopes of the mountains of great Armenia – Aragats, Yeghegnadzor, Vardenis, Syunik, Sisian, rock paintings of people whose life was accompanied by music were found.

Interesting finds: violin and kamancha

The great Armenian poet, philosopher, representative of the early Armenian Renaissance Narekatsi already in the 10th century mentioned such a stringed instrument as a violin or, as they call it jutak in Armenia.

The city of Dvin is the medieval capital of beautiful Armenia. During excavations of this city, Armenian archaeologists discovered the most interesting finds. Among them, a violin of the 1960th-XNUMXth centuries and a kamancha of the XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries, which were found in XNUMX.

A vessel that dates back to the 11th century attracts much attention. The sapphire-violet glass with beautiful patterns distinguishes it from all vessels. This vessel is interesting not only for an archaeologist, but also for a musician. It depicts a musician sitting on a carpet and playing a bowed musical instrument. This tool is very interesting. It is the size of a viola, and the body is similar in shape to a guitar. A bow-shaped cane is a bow. Holding the bow here combines the shoulder and side ways, which are characteristic of both the West and the East.

Many confirm that this is an image of the predecessor of the violin, called the fidel. Of the bowed musical instruments, the kamancha was also discovered in Dvina, which is also a valuable exhibit for instrumental science. Armenia claims to play a leading role in the issue of the emergence of stringed musical instruments.

Other interesting musical instruments

The most interesting finds also date back to the period of the Kingdom of Van. In Karmir Blur, archaeologists found bowls that were stacked on top of each other. There were 97 of them. Bowls with their sound qualities served people as ritual objects. In the Armenian Highlands, the prerequisites for the appearance of lutens arose. In the relief images of the Hittite kingdom, in the country of Hayasa (Little Armenia), the image of a lute was preserved.

The most interesting finds were also discovered in the Lchashen burial mounds, including a lute from the mid-2nd millennium BC. In Artashat, a lute in terracotta from the Hellenistic period was displayed. They were depicted both in Armenian miniatures and on stone medieval tombstones.

During the excavations of Garni and Artashat, three pipes were discovered that were made of bone. 3-4 holes were preserved on them. The silver bowls at Karashamba depict the earliest examples of wind musical instruments.

Armenian scientists are still interested in musical archeology, along with the rich heritage of Armenian folklore, to this day.