ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Zabukh 4 Monuments

NKR (Country) / Kashatagh (District) / Zabukh (Village)

Location
19 c․

This is the last village extending along the bank down by the course of the Aghavnaget. The Kurds have settled here since the beginning of the 19th century. Its altitude is 820-860 m above the sea. The houses all over the village are surrounded by vast mulberry plantations.

Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 150.

Historical Introduction

Most of the researchers identified this village with the Shabaki mentioned by St. Orbelian in regard of the tithe (7 drams), (in the publication of 1911 it is mentioned in the form Shapoki).

Stephanos Orbelian, History of Syunik, Yerevan, 1986, p. 399.
Stephanos Orbelian, History of the Sisakan Province", Tiflis, 1911. p. 516 (in Arm.).
Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, pp. 150-151.

Specifically Gh. Alishan, M. Hasratian, A. Gharagyozian are unanimous in presuming that Zabukh is Shaboki. Meanwhile, S. Khanzadian expressed an opinion, although without sufficient substantiation, that Zabukh is the historical Pakhakhonik. Being unable to offer exhaustive substantiation, we could however point to the village Shpki, situated between the settlements Tegh and Zabukh, the name of which might inspire certain doubts as to the identity of Zabukh and Shabaki.

Ghevond Alishan, Sisakan, Venice, 1893, p. 268 (in Arm.).
Morus Hasratian, Researches in History and Archaeology, p. 156 (in Arm.).
Armen Karagyozian, On Localization of the Kashatagh District, "Lraber", 1987, N 1, p. 43 (in Russian).
Sero Khanzadian, Ibid., p. 24 (in Arm.). By the way, the publication of 1911, used by the author, contained a misprint in the name of historical Baghakhanik; thus the name was distorted to Pakhakhonik.
Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 151.

1775 y․

As mentioned by S. Khanzadian, Armenians inhabited in Zabukh till 1775. This is quite possible, but unfortunately, we still cannot say what was the source of the writer’s information.

Sero Khanzadian, Ibid., p. 24 (in Arm.).
Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 151.

Monuments

As mentioned by S. Khanzadian, Armenians inhabited in Zabukh till 1775. This is quite possible, but unfortunately, we still cannot say what was the source of the writer's information. In regard of Armenian monuments preserved in the vicinity of the village, the writer notes: "In the pasture, named Keshish-veran (the Priest's ruins) there was a khachkar lying on its back, which reads:
"THE DATE 1555, I MELIK HOVSEP OF THE AGHAHEJ PROVINCE, GAVE SHAPOKI -THE VILLAGE OF MY PATRIMONY TO TZITZERNU VANK..."
The said Shapoki was situated near the Lsorik and Agarakuget villages. I found a tomb stone on the edge of the gorge:
"BRAVE MELIK GEDEON, THE PRINCE OF THIS PLACE, TOOK MARTYR'S DEATH IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THE CURSED PERSIAN INVADER PANAH IN HIS EARLY BLOSSOM, IN 1762... ".

Sero Khanzadian, Ibid., p. 24 (in Arm.).
Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 151.

Population
1888 y․

Living nearby the main road, the Kurdish inhabitants of Zabukh had been in perpetual contact with the Turkish population owing to which they lost their mother tongue already by 1888. As witnessed by one of the visitors, the population, consisting of 60 households was Turkish.

"Nor Dar", 1988, N 33 (in Arm.).
Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 151.

Armenian-Turkish Fights of 1905 to 1906
1905 y․

During the ethnic conflict of 1905-1906 the Zabukh villagers were the most active warriors in the province. Particularly, on Dec. 29-30, 1905 they: “attacked, with a very large force, the Gharaghshlagh village, and meeting resistance, shamefully retreated and fled.. .”

“Mshak", 1906. N II, Jan. 18, p. 2 (in Arm.).
Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 151.

Description
1990 y․

At the end of the Soviet period, the Azerbaijanian authorities paid special attention to rebuilding and reinforcing Zabukh. Taking into consideration the geographical position of the village (the second largest village after Lachin on the Goris-Stepanakert highway), the authorities had been concerned with fortifying Zabukh, and it was not by accident, that by 1990 they turned the village to a military standpoint.

Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 151.

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Shabaki