Canal Construction in Medieval Armenia According to Armenian Epigraphic Sources

The vital importance of water in Armenian reality has a centuries-old history. The first water cult symbols in the Armenian Highland can be found in petroglyphs. Later stelae were erected near the water sources and epigraphic inscriptions were engraved on the occasion of water construction works. The tradition continued in the Middle Ages as well, as evidenced by Armenian epigraphic inscriptions related to the construction of canals and other water structures. In terms of content, these have the same ideological background, that is, to provide water resources necessary for human activity (drinking and irrigation water). Horticulture, in particular viticulture and winemaking also had a primary place in the medieval agriculture, which is evidenced by numerous epigraphic inscriptions concerning the “soil and water” donations of gardens, lands, villages.

There are preserved epigraphic inscriptions towards bringing water to the settlements and gardens, building streams and canals, erecting khachkars on the occasion of water construction works, discounting the water tax, defining the right of water consumption, etc. The chronology of them covers almost the entire Middle Ages and the later period. We tried to present the tradition on the basis of the several key inscriptions, such as those known from Talin (783), Aruch (867), Jrvezh (1173), Amberd (first half of the 13^th century), old Halidzor (1265), Verishen (1294), Sotk (1569), etc.