Վարսերի ուշմիջնադարյան գերեզմանատունը (վիմագրագիտական հետազոտություն)

<jats:p>Gegharkunik province, rich with historical and architectural monuments, also has a significant epigraphic heritage, which is important for understanding the history of the region. By the 1970s approximately 1600 inscriptions from Gavar, Martuni and Vardenis had been studied and published. Until the 1970s, about 1600 inscriptions from Gavar, Martuni and Vardenis had been studied and published. As a result of construction earthworks and archaeological excavations, the number of discovered inscriptions continues to increase. Considering that some settlements in the province which at the different times have forgotten from the attention of researchers, we have attempted to collect and publish newly discovered inscriptions organized by settlement, content and historical period. In doing so, the material becomes both contemporary and significant. This article presents the study of about two dozen inscriptions collected and copied from village of Varser and its surrounding areas, based on field work conducted in 2018-2019. Varser is mentioned in historical sources as early as the 9-th century among the villages donated to Sevanavank Monastery by Princess Mariam, daughter of King Ashot I. Analisis: The documented memorial inscriptions have been mainly preserved in the village cemetery, carved on medieval and especially late medieval khachqars (cross-stones) and flat tomb. They testify to the presence of an exclusively Armenian population during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, reflecting cultural values and aspects of social relations. The epigraphical heritage of region at the same time serves as an incentive the discovery, collection, and preservations of new inscriptions in the region. Since these inscriptions are endangered by natural and human factors, their documentation, deciphering, and digitization should be regarded as a priority. Thus, through this research, we want to contribute to a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the history and cultural heritage of Varser and more broadly the Gegharkunik Province.</jats:p>