Armenian cemetery on slopes of Ararat demolished by treasure hunters

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian cemetery in the village of Akhori, situated near the city of Igdir on the slopes of Mount Ararat, has been demolished at the hands of Turkish treasure hunters.

Left untended, the cemetery has been looted, with the bones of those buried scattered in the area, Tert.am reported citing Turkish Dicle news agency.

“The residents of the mostly Kurdish-populated village urge the government to address the issue and promote preservation of the history of the area,” Dicle said.

The village of Akhori was almost completely demolished in the 19th century earthquake, with only the cemetery left untouched. Historic data reveals that before the quake and the landslide that destroyed the village, the latter was home to a 7th century St. Hakob Church. Later, a new settlement renamed into Yeni Dogan was formed in the area.