"Archaeology as a Bridge between Italy and Armenia: From the Bronze Age to Digital Heritage" by Carlo Coppola
Archaeology continues to stand among the most productive fields of cooperation between Italy and Armenia, where scientific research and cultural diplomacy converge to strengthen the longstanding ties between the two countries. The recent archaeological activities at Shamiram and Dvin offer compelling examples of how shared heritage can foster international collaboration while advancing knowledge of Armenia's rich historical legacy.
On 11 June 2026, the Italian Ambassador to Armenia, H.E. Alessandro Ferranti, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Sarune Ferranti, visited the excavation site of the Armenian–Italian Archaeological Mission at Shamiram, in Armenia's Aragatsotn Province, during the 2026 excavation campaign (26 May–25 June).
The mission is jointly directed by Professor Varduhy Melikyan and Professor Roberto Dan on behalf of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and ISMEO – The International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The archaeological site of Shamiram—whose name recalls the legendary Queen Semiramis—preserves an exceptional stratigraphic sequence extending from the Bronze Age through the Medieval period and is distinguished by an impressive defensive fortification system.
During the current campaign, archaeologists continued the investigation of the monumental Tomb 3, uncovering a stone-built burial cist containing bronze weapons, obsidian arrowheads, and the remains of a sacrificed horse, evidence that reflects the high social status and ceremonial traditions of Late Bronze Age elites. Excavations have also brought to light significant pre-Urartian remains, further confirming nearly two millennia of uninterrupted occupation at the site.
Just a few days later, on 15 June, Ambassador Ferranti and Mrs. Ferranti visited Dvin, the medieval capital of Armenia, to mark the completion of the first three-dimensional documentation campaign of archaeological finds carried out within the framework of the ArcheTourDev project, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
The project is coordinated by the University of Florence in partnership with Yerevan State University and the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, under the scientific direction of Professor Hamlet Petrosyan and Professor Michele Nucciotti, with the support of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure and ISMEO.
Between 7 and 14 June, an Italian-Armenian research team, working alongside Global Digital Heritage and researchers Elisa Pruno and Tatiana Vardanesova, digitally recorded approximately 350 archaeological artefacts dating from the 9th to the 13th centuries. These included ceramic vessels, amphorae, oil lamps, and kiln waste, providing valuable insights into everyday life in medieval Dvin and its extensive commercial connections with the Near East and the Iranian world.
Using advanced photogrammetry and laser-scanning technologies, the project has created high-resolution digital models that will significantly enhance the preservation, documentation, research, and accessibility of one of Armenia's most important archaeological sites.
From the Bronze Age burials of Shamiram to the digital reconstruction of the medieval heritage of Dvin, archaeology once again proves to be a powerful instrument of cultural diplomacy. More than a scientific discipline, it serves as a bridge connecting two nations united by a shared commitment to preserving, studying, and transmitting the living memory of their civilizations to future generations.
Carlo Coppola
