Opposing research institutes have agreed to set aside their disputes over the nature of the so-called 'Armenian Stonehenge' to solve its mysteries for once and for all.

Made up of 223 stones, Carahunge has been argued to predate Wiltshire's Stonehenge by 2,500 years — but its purpose has long been a bone of contention.

Although some archaeologists have argued that the prehistoric site was used as an astronomical observatory, others contend it was just a conventional settlement.

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Opposing research institutes have agreed to set aside their disputes over the nature of the so-called 'Armenian Stonehenge', pictured, to solve its mysteries for once and for all

Made up of 223 stones, Carahunge has been argued to predate Wiltshire's Stonehenge by 2,500 years — but its purpose has long been a bone of contention

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT CARAHUNGE? Carahunge — dubbed the 'Armenian Stonehenge' — lies near the town of Sisian, in Syunik Province. The site features 223 stones laid out over 7 hectares — equivalent in size to 13 football fields — in various patterns. The stones weight up to 10 tons and stand as high as 10 feet (3 metres) above the ground. 80 of the stones have had holes bored into them, reportedly causing the stones to whistle in the wind. It is from this that the name Carahunge — 'speaking stones' — is derived. The original purpose of the ancient construction has been the the subject of much debate. Two competing theories exist, which would have the site be either an ancient astronomical observatory or a more conventional settlement. Similarly unclear is the age of the site — proponents of the observatory theory have suggested Carahunge dates back to around 5,500 BC. In contrast, other experts have suggested the site dates back to between the Middle Bronze Age and the Iron Age, from 1,500–300 BC. Advertisement

Members of the Bnorran Historic-Cultural NGO and the Armenian Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography co-signed an agreement on July 30 to collaborate in plumbing the mysteries of Carahunge, which lies near Sisian, in Armenia's Syunik Province.

For the former group of researchers, the archaeological site — which some experts claim is 7,500 years old — represents the earliest-known observatory.

'We think Carahunge — where more than 200 stones are located, with 80 having holes in them — is an ancient astronomical observatory,' Bnorran board member Arevik Sargsyan told Armenpress.

This idea is partly based on the work of the physicist Paris Herouni, who had argued that the ancient complex dated back to around 5,500 BC.

Some of the stones, he suggested, had been deliberately positioned in order to align with Deneb, the brightest star in the constellation of Cygnus, along with the positions of the sun and the moon at certain times in the year.

'According to another opinion, Carahunge isn’t an astronomical observatory,' Ms Sargsyan said.

For them, she added, 'it is simply an ancient site, a settlement, which has a status of a mausoleum.'

In this theory, the stones form the structural remains of a city wall, in which the rocks supported piles of rubble and loam that have since been removed from the site.

This is the opinion held by researchers at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, who have long disagreed with the astronomical interpretation of Ms Sargsyan and her associates.

Not a single astronomical tool has been unearthed from the Carahunge site, institute director Pavel Avetisyan and archaeological expedition team leader Ashot Piliposyan reportedly told Armenpress.

Furthermore, they noted, some of the holes in the stones — which are often cited as evidence in support of the site having been an astronomical observatory — are located on the lower parts of the basalt rocks and thus do not even point at the stars.

Although some archaeologists have argued that the prehistoric site was used as an astronomical observatory, others contend it was just a conventional settlement

For members of the Bnorran Historic-Cultural NGO, the archaeological site — which some experts claim is 7,500 years old — represents the earliest-known observatory

Armenian physicist Paris Herouni argued that some of the stones had been deliberately positioned in order to align with Deneb, the brightest star in the constellation of Cygnus

Holes in the stones are often cited as evidence in support of the site having been an astronomical observatory, but some are located on the lower parts of the basalt rocks and thus do not even point at the stars

For the moment, both academic groups have agreed on a temporary suspension of their excavations and research at the Carahunge site.

Investigations will resume once a jointly-held seminar of experts from various disciplines — including archaeologists, astronomers and ethnographers — has been held to determine a shared research plan for the ancient stone feature.

'It requires studies in all aspects,' said Dr Piliposyan, who argues that the site is unique across the whole Transcaucasia region

'We discussed many issues during the signing of the agreement, we even considered that maybe in the future it will be possible to build a museum near the monument to display all materials regarding the ancient site.'

For the moment, both academic groups have agreed on a temporary suspension of their excavations and research at the Carahunge site

Investigations will resume once a jointly-held seminar of experts from various disciplines — including archaeologists, astronomers and ethnographers — has been held to determine a shared research plan for the ancient stone feature

80 of the stones have had holes bored into them, reportedly causing the stones to whistle in the wind. It is from this that the name Carahunge — 'speaking stones' — is derived