ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Lev 10 Monuments

NKR (Country) / Karvajar (District) / Lev (Village)

Location

The village Lev is situated on the left slope of the gorge, in the upper alpine zone (altitude of 1730-1840 m above the sea) of the river Lev.

Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 35.

Historical Introduction
1960 — 1980 yy․

The new quarter of the village was built on the right slope of the gorge during 1960-80.

Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 35.

Population
1908 — 1981 yy․

In 1908-1981 population increased over ten times though the ethnic Kurds lost their national identity.

Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 35.

Historical Introduction
1763 y․

Although Lev was an Armenian village existing since at least the Middle Ages, it is recorded for the first time only in 1763, in the inventory of Dadi Vank estates.

"Jambr" Assembled and Rendered by Simeon Catholicos Yerevantsi, Vagharshapat, 1873, p. 283.
Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 35.

1913 y․

This village was still considered to be a monastery estate as late as in 1913, probably up to the establishment of the Soviet rule.

"Ardzagank", Tiflis, 1886, N 44, p. 577.
SCHARA, F. 57, L. 1, C. 400, p. 1.
See also "Azatamart" 1992, N 15, p. 14 (S. Karapetian, The Estates of Dadi Vank) (in Arm.).
Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 35.

Description

Several simple crosses were carved on the western side of a rock bursting out in the centre of the village; the other finely carved khachkar was lying 1.6 km east of the village, beneath an isolated rock. It was unbroken and measured 180x93x20 cm.

Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 35.

19 c․

A few villages in the vicinity of Lev were rein-habited by the Turkish or Kurdish nomads in the beginning of the XIX cent. Unfortunately, the historical Armenian names of those villages are forgotten and we know only their present names. Takhdam and Kyurddam are situated upper by the river course, at the left bank of the Lev, 2-3 km away from the village Lev. A little further, 4-6 km southwest of Lev are the villages Jamillu and Damrchidam (or Arm. Darbnots 'Smithshop'), later reinhabited by the Turks of Ayrum and Ghamishlu tribes. The villages Bashdam or Seydlar, and 1 or 2 km south of Lev - villages Chupurlu and Elyasalilar or Ella Zallar are situated close to each other, at the confluence of the streams Urijur and Jamillu (3.5 km of Lev village).

Leo, History of the Armenian Parish Schools in Karabakh in 1838-1913, Tiflis, 1914, p. 677 (in Arm.).
Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 35.

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Levkyand	1812 — 1920 yy․
Lev	1600 — 1812 yy․

Population:

Dates	Kurdish Inhabitants	Kurdish Houses	Notes	Source
1908	46			The Caucasian Calendar for 1910, Tiflis, 1909 (in Rus.); Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 35.
1952		45		"Hayreniki dzayn", 1993, N 20, p. 5 (in Arm.); Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 35.
1972		65		"Hayreniki dzayn", 1993, N 20, p. 5 (in Arm.); Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 35.
1981		496		Soviet Azerbaijanian Encyclopaedia, vol. 6, Baku. 1982, p. 176 (in Azerb.); Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 35.