Historic overview

The history of the locality of Vanadzor comes from the depth of centuries. The long research of archeologists showed that the region of Tashir-Dzoraget and especially the area of Vanadzor were rich in big and small archeological monuments ("Tagavoranist", "Mashtotsiblur", "Kosi moter" and so on).

Some tombs belonging to the Bronze Age and the early period of Iron Age (third millenium BC) were discovered in Dimats district. The weaving art was prospering here. Findings of metal, bronze and later iron items prove the development of metal production in this region. Examining of material culture patterns show that the tribes dwelling in the locality of Vanadzor in III-I milleniums BC were in close contact with Trans-Caucasus, Asia Minor, even with Near East.

The information about Medieval Gharakilisa (the old name of Vanadzor) is very little. The only trace is the village of Papan situated in the gorge of Vanadzor. Even today, one can see ruins of the medieval church not far from it. It is supposed that the name Gharakilisa (Black Church) is of Tartar origin, it was given because of the church made of black stone situated on the northern hill of Vanadzor. Vanadzor was constantly conquered and destroyed by foreign invaders: Persians,Tartar-Mongols and Turks.

In 1801 Lori together with Georgia joined Russia and Vanadzor became a boundary military station. Since 1849 Vanadzor belonged to the region of Yerevan. Construction of a road Dilijan- Vanadzor - Gyumri began in 1870 and Typhlis - Vanadzor - Gyumri railway began in 1899, a station, a post-office and inns greatly assisted in the development of the rural town.

Great Armenian educator Kh. Abovian, who visited Vanadzor in 1829, gives evidence that there were hardly 500-600 inhabitants who had come from Yerevan. Later when Eastern Armenia joined Russia in 1830, hundreds of Armenian families from Kars, Ardahan, Bayazet, Erzrumand other town of Western Armenia settled down in Vanadzor. The historical data rich in past and present heroic conquers of Vanadzor can be seen in more than five thousand exhibits of the town museums.

In January 1935, the central committee administration of the Armenian Socialist Republic decided to rename Gharakilisa to Kirovakan after the well-known revolutionary S.M. Kirov.

www.lori.am