Shurnukh Village and Ancient Sites Exploration
Explore the historic village of Shurnukh and its surrounding ancient sites, discovering how border changes after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war affected this community, alongside ancient fortresses, medieval churches, and archaeological discoveries.
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Shurnukh Village
Visit Shurnukh, a village that found itself in international headlines after portions of it were transferred to Azerbaijan following the 2020 war, the community's experience illustrating the human consequences of geopolitical border changes.
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Medieval Fortress Ruins
Climb to the ruins of a medieval fortress overlooking Shurnukh that once protected this strategically located village, the remaining walls and tower bases commanding views of the valley approaches that made this position militarily vital.
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Ancient Church Site
Find the ancient Armenian church whose carved khachkars and architectural fragments document centuries of Christian community life in this village, the building itself a physical claim on the deep historical roots of Armenian presence in this territory.
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Border Landscape View
Stand at the viewpoint from which the complex border landscape is visible, the new boundaries cutting across terrain that was divided without reference to the villages, roads, and agricultural lands that communities had used for generations.
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Archaeological Discovery Site
Visit a site where Bronze Age burials and Urartian-period artifacts have been excavated, the deep archaeological record demonstrating that this landscape has been continuously inhabited and fought over for thousands of years.
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Community Gathering Space
Spend time in the village's community gathering space where residents discuss the challenges of post-war life in a border zone, maintaining community solidarity in the face of the uncertainty and disruption that geopolitical change has brought.