Taking the opposite road E,  about  1 km E of the village of Horom (S. Hripsime church of 1861) is a dam and reservoir. S of the road, opposite the dam, rise two substantial hills wreathed with impressive Bronze Age through     Urartian      citadel        walls. Armenian              and               American archaeologists led by Ruben Badalian and  Philip   Kohl   began   excavations

   The  road  then  passes   NW   to   the village of Saratak (till 1940 Emirkhan), with Hellenistic settlement and graveyard.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

there recently, and have found well-preserved walls and a great depth of cultural materials. This is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Armenia, particularly in the spring when the massive volcanic stones of the fortress are set off by brilliant green grass. Potsherds and obsidian flakes are strewn everywhere.