"Public Awareness and Monitoring Center" NGO President Marie Chakryan warns that the 2,800-year-old garden and the winepresses in its territory lack proper protection.
Even the minimum actions necessary for the protection of the remaining unique winepresses in the territory of Dalma Gardens have not been performed. Day by day, the fields are covered with vegetation, they collapse and turn into a garbage dump.
In order to draw the attention of the public and relevant bodies to the problem of Dalma gardens and winepresses, civil society and scientists have united their efforts. "Public Awareness and Monitoring Center" NGO, "Dalma-Sona" Foundation and "Mihr Voyage" Cultural and Tourism Company Archaeologist Levon Mkrtchyan, who is also a Chief Specialist at Monuments Preservation Department of Historical-Cultural Reserve Museums and Historical Environment Protection Service SNCO, carried out a study that will promote the preservation of monuments and the restoration of the cultural landscape.
In order to present carried out activities, a media tour was organized in Dalma Gardens on August 2, which was attended by representatives of "Public Awareness and Monitoring Center" NGO, "Dalma-Sona" Foundation, “EcoLur” Informational NGO, "Mihr Voyage" company, tour guides, archaeologists, employees of the Department of Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Ministry and journalists.
According to Marie Chakryan's previous archaeological excavations, as well as information from various scientific sources, more than 50 winepresses have been dated in Dalma Gardens. Today, the foundations of ten winepresses were found in that area, out of which six are relatively preserved. "Only the wall of some of them remained, the other part of the floor. Someone can destroy without knowing that it is a monument. Our goal is to show people what the winepress represents, that it needs protection," she said.
Marie Chakryan informed that within the framework of the joint research carried out with archaeologist Levon Mkrtchyan, drone footage of the winepresses found in the area of Dalma Gardens was carried out.
“Three-dimensional models of winepresses were prepared based on them. Today, in some parts of Dalma Gardens, people continue the work of their ancestors, and in some parts, only the empty columns of grape vines remain.” Mari Chakryan mentioned that the reason is the uncertain state of the future fate of Dalma Gardens, the fear of farmers living in Yerevan to be deprived of their lands. Meanwhile, Dalma Gardens could become Yerevan's unique business card and bring streams of tourists to get acquainted with the evidence of the thousand-year history of viticulture if a proper state policy were available.
August 09, 2022 at 12:19