The village and people on the border. Berdavan

On Saturday morning, we set off for Berdavan with our colleagues.

Although it was Saturday, the village was bustling with activity: the sound of children playing, village-wide conversations, construction, and patriotic songs from the culture house.

BERDAVAN CASTLE

In Berdavan, we were told that anyone who sets foot in the village for the first time should start their visit at Ghalinjakar Castle. The most notable and symbolic fortress in the village is Ghalinjakar, which dates back to the 12th century.

The etymology of the name Berd is revealed in the dialect of the Tavush population with the polysemantic word “ghalin” still in use today. It has the meanings of dense, many, thick, abundant, overflowing.

 

The first three are fully consistent with the name of the fortress: a fortress with many stones, a dense structure and thick walls. The fortress played an important role in the defense of not only the village, but also the population of the region.

Read the rest here.

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Author: Ernest Khanumyan