ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Garnaker 33 Monuments

Azerbaijan (Country) / Northern Artsakh (Area) / Shamkhor (District) / Garnaker (Village)

Location

Garnaker is situated on the south-facing slope of a gorge lying on the left bank of the river Shamkor, 23 kilometres south of the district centre.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 483.

In the mid-19th century, it was described as “a village founded on the bank of the river Shamkor. It enjoys a favourable position, abounds in gardens and does not know any shortage of water...”

Jalaliants, S. A Travel to Great Armenia, part 1, Tpghis, 1842, p. 162.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 483.

Historical Introduction
15 c․

The earliest records of Garnaker mention it in the mid-15th century in connection with Sourb Astvatzatzin Church of Tzaghkots Monastery built on an elevation on the left bank of the river Shamkor, about 0.7 kilometre south of the village.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 483.

1691 y․

In 1691 reference is made to “head of Garnaker Village Sedkh” with regard to the struggle of superiority between Aghvank Catholicoses Simeon and Yeremia: together with many other spiritual and secular dignitaries of the region, he recognized the authority of the former by putting his signature to a “Document of Unity.”

“Ararat,” 1900, p. 320.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 483.

Means of Communication
19 c․

The roads leading to Garnaker did not boast good conditions, a record tracing back to the first quarter of the 19th century attesting this: “...the bumpy roads of this village are extremely difficult of passage, the nearby deep, harrowing abysses frightening passers-by to death. The local residents, however, should thank their lucky stars for the impregnable position of their village, since it saves them the trouble of incursions by various barbarians.”

Jalaliants, S. A Travel to Great Armenia, part 1, Tpghis, 1842, p. 162.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 483.

1884 y․

In 1884 the road connecting Garnaker with the adjacent villages was renovated.

“Nor-Dar,” 1884, No. 121, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 483.

Population
1839 y․

An archive document of 1839 has preserved a list of 15 families dwelling in Garnaker which is of special value for the study of their history:

“Petros Khojian, his wife Mariam and their son Mkrtich;
Hovhannes Sahakian, his wife Shoghakat, their sons Poghos and Hovakim as well as their daughters Hori, Shahgul and Taguhi; Hovhannes’ brother, widower Stepan, his son Karapet as well as his daughters Voski and Herik;
Hayrapet Ter-Yeghiazarian, his mother Rehan, his wife Mariam, his sons Sahak and Hovhannes as well as his daughters Hori, Khanum, Herik and Margaret; Hayrapet’s brothers 1. Babi with his spouse Gozal, and 2. Grigor with his wife Ghumash;
Sargis Matevosov, his brother Harutiun with his spouse Annayi, their daughter Nazi as well as their sons Mkrtich and Poghos;
Gevorg Ohanesov, his wife Sarah, their daughter Margaret, their daughter-in-law Khatayi as well as their sons Makar and Simeon;
Aghajan Khachaturian, his wife Anna, their sons Avag and Khachatur as well as their daughters Aziz and Anakhas; Aghajan’s brother Ghazar, his wife Margaret as well as their children Stepan and Mariam;
Anton Khachaturian, his wife Mariam as well as their sons Tuni and Hovsep;
Mkrtum Sargissian, his mother Khanum, his wife Mariam, their sons Harutiun and Karapet as well as their daughters Hori and Yeghisabet;
Hovhannes Arzumanian with his mother Mariam;
Hovhannes Minassian, his mother Mariam, his daughter Vardi as well as his sons Avag and Hakob;
Harutiun Avagian, his wife Nazlukhan as well as their sons Sahak and Mkrtich; Harutiun’s brother Zakaria, his spouse Gozal and their daughter Khatayi;
Papi Hovsepian, his mother Margaret, his wife Aziz and his brother Mkrtich with his spouse Nubar;
Grigor Maghakian with his wife Hori;
Vardan Harutiunian, his wife Zani, their daughter Mariam as well as their sons Ghazar and Grigor;
Hovhannes Voskanian, his wife Vardi, their sons Harutiun, and Khachatur with his spouse Anna.”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3800, p. 28.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 483-484.

As is apparent from the statistical evidence presented above, the local population continually increased during the period between the 19th century and the establishment of the Soviet regime.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.

Occupation

The Armenians of Garnaker were mainly occupied with gardening and farming.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.

A path leading to the village from the west Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Barum
Barumshen

The available statistical data concerning the number of Garnaker’s population represent the following picture:

Dates	Armenian Houses	Armenians (Male)	Armenians (Female)	Total (Armenians)	Notes	Source
1804	9	19	17	36		Collected Acts of the Caucasian Archaeological Commission, vol. 2, Tiflis, 1868, p. 596; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1839	15	47	47	94		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3800, p. 28; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1845		129	115	244		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3811, pp. 5-6; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1847		124	127	251		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3814, pp. 97-98; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1849		186	160	346		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3818, pp. 97-98; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1852		157	150	307		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3819, pp. 106-107; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1861	25					National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3835, pp. 148-149. Also see National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 4254, p. 11; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1866	43	253	141	394		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3848, p. 57; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1872		338	295	633	Another statistical source reports 476 inhabitants (National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3859, pp. 161-162).	National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3872, pp. 62-63; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1874				502		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3864, pp. 41-42; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1875				511		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3866, pp. 45-46; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1876				513		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3868, pp. 57-58; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1877		321	279	600		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3869, pp. 54-55; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1878		312	283	595		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3870, pp. 23-24; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1880		338	295	633		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3872, pp. 30-31; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1881		341	292	633		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3873, pp. 27-28; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1882		358	299	657		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3874, p. 30; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1883		371	312	683		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3875, pp. 56-57; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1885	90	546	464	1010		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3877, p. 30. Also see “Ardzagank,” 1885, No. 4, p. 51; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1886	84	380	360	740	Another source reports 56 houses (“Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 21, p. 308).	Yelizavetpol Province: A Statistical Survey Based on the Family Lists of Caucasia's Population. Tiflis, 1888, pp. 76-77; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1887		573	498	1071		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3880, p. 74; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1888		573	496	1069		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3882, p. 131; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1889		576	508	1084		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3884, pp. 228-229; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1890		588	508	1096		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3887, p. 150; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1891		618	533	1151		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3889, p. 149; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1892		628	545	1173		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3891, p. 121; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1893		649	554	1203		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3895, pp. 78-79; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1894		669	571	1240		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3896, pp.174-175; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1897		715	598	1313		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3899, pp. 147-148; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1898		730	607	1337		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3897, p. 169; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1899		735	609	1344		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3903, pp. 128-129; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1900		752	627	1379		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3905, pp. 93-94; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1901		752	631	1383		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3906, pp. 99-100; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1902		760	634	1394		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3907, pp. 23-24; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1905		766	638	1404		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3912, pp. 266-267; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1906		706	597	1303		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3915, p. 75; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1907				800		National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 240, p. 2; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1908	135	562	513	1075		National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 559, p. 12. Also see Caucasian Calendar for 1910, Tiflis, 1909, p. 199; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1909		752	631	1383		National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 18, file 764, p. 117; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1910		439	361	800		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3917, pp. 59-60; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1912		767	651	1418		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3919, pp. 62-63; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1914				1500		Caucasian Calendar for 1915, Tiflis, 1914, p. 96; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1917	102			1500		Avetissian, M. M. A Reference Book on the Settlements and Population Number of Nagorno Karabakh and Zangezur (1917). In: “Banber Hayastani Arkhivneri,” 1991, No. 3, p. 166; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.
1985	9			14		Karapetian, S. Abandoned Armenian Settlements in Azerbaijan (1988 to 1991). In: “Hayreniki Dzayn,” 9 February 1993, p. 4; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 484.