Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com – For over a century, the enigmatic Dragon Stones of the Armenian Highlands have puzzled researchers. However, now science has finally unraveled who moved these colossal stones—standing 18 feet tall and weighing several tons—and why. Once believed to be relics of a forgotten cult, compelling new evidence indicates they played a crucial role in ancient water-linked rituals and early irrigation practices.
Credit: “Vishap” Project’, A. Bobobkhyan
Known as vishaps, these monumental prehistoric structures are adorned with animal imagery and scattered throughout the Armenian Highlands. Carved into shapes resembling fish, reptiles, or sometimes both, these stones have long intrigued scholars. Previous studies have confirmed their age to be thousands of years old and noted their proximity to water sources. However, the purpose behind carving such large stones and placing them at high altitudes remained elusive until now.
According to a recent study, it is likely that vishaps originated during the Chalcolithic period and were subsequently reused and integrated in various ways. This suggests that, from at least the Late Chalcolithic period, around the end of the fifth millennium BC, the archaeological site of Tirinkatar was in use and served as a cultural landscape with a remarkable concentration of vishaps.
Credit: “Vishap” Project’, A. Bobobkhyan
The researchers have identified that the stones are categorized into two distinct groups. Fish-shaped stones are typically found at higher elevations, sometimes exceeding 9,000 feet above sea level, and are located near natural water sources.
In contrast, cow-hide-shaped stones are more frequently found at mid-altitudes within valleys where water was utilized for agricultural purposes.
Notably, the largest Vishap stone, known as Karakap 3, is situated at an elevation of over 9,100 feet. This finding challenges previous assumptions that smaller monuments would be constructed in areas with limited snow-free working seasons.
Instead, it reveals that the builders undertook the complex task of transporting large stones to high-altitude locations. This endeavor required organized manpower, careful planning, and adequate supplies for laborers working in challenging mountain conditions.
Credit: “Vishap” Project’, A. Bobobkhyan
The Dragon Stones first captured scientific interest around 1900 due to their location near water bodies. Subsequent carbon-14 analyses dated them back up to 6,000 years. Now, groundbreaking research by Yerevan State University and the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography has solved this ancient riddle. Published in npj Heritage Science, this study is the first comprehensive statistical examination of 115 vishaps across the region using radiocarbon dating, spatial analysis, and precise measurements.
Typology of vishaps: piscis, vellus, hybrida. Credit: “Vishap” Project, A. Gilibert
In the new study, he research team explains that the connection between the stones and water has been well-documented, with various design elements suggesting a religious significance. Researchers have concluded that these stones were erected as part of a water cult. The considerable effort needed to design and transport people and materials for these monuments indicates that this cult was likely widespread.
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Additionally, the location on elevated ground holds symbolic importance, as it is where meltwater from the mountains descends into the valley. It is believed that the stones served as a pilgrimage site for those who came to pay homage to the life-sustaining water.
The findings reveal that these stones were intentionally positioned near springs, lakes, and prehistoric irrigation channels—serving as sacred markers within an intricate system of water management. This discovery not only sheds light on ancient practices but also underscores humanity’s enduring relationship with nature’s most vital resource: water.
The study was published in Nature
Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer