The “Sheni spring” of Kavahan (Ghavakhan) village

The “Sheni spring” of Kavahan (Ghavakhan) village

Location

The spring is situated in the namesake village of the Martuni region, positioned on the southern edge of the village, to the left side of the main road upon entering the village (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1 The general view of the spring, photo by A. Grigoryan.

Historical overview

According to the monument preservation service certificate issued by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of the Republic of Artsakh, the spring was constructed in 1906. Adjacent to the spring, on the left side, a source formed by a stone basin holds a somewhat deteriorated building inscription. Samvel Karapetyan provides a brief description and photograph of this source in his book "Armenian Springs," although he does not mention the construction date (Karapetyan, 2023, 45). Locals refer to it as the "Sheni Spring."

Architectural-compositional examination

The spring is constructed using local limestone and lime mortar, forming a rectangular structure. Its main feature is a narrow and elongated nave crafted from polished stones. The nave measures 10.5 meters in length, 60 centimeters in width, and stands at a height of 1.8 meters. Over time, the spring has undergone several repair works (Fig. 2).

The condition before and after the war

The spring remained intact during the hostilities and underwent partial renovation in the 1980s (http://monuments.nk.am/pages.php?al=home&id=466&act1=more&act=filter&mtype=98&searchword=%D4%BF%D5%A1%D5%BE%D5%A1%D5%B0%D5%A1%D5%B6 ).

In recent years, a sizable plaque bearing the inscription "Artsakh" has been affixed to the wall of the spring (see Fig. 3). Additionally, in the 1990s, khachkars dating back to the 12th-13th centuries were erected in the right and left corners of the spring (see fig. 4, 5). Notably, one of these khachkars features a sculpture depicting a family "portrait," a motif commonly found in Artsakh khachkars, showcasing the mother, child, and father.

Fig. 2 The structure of the spring, photo by A. Grigoryan.

Fig. 3 The slab attached to the wall of the spring, photo by A. Grigoryan.

Fig. 4 A medieval khachkar attached to the spring wall, photo by A. Grigoryan.

Fig. 5 A medieval khachkar attached to the spring wall, photo by A. Grigoryan.

Bibliography

    1. Karapetyan 2023 - Karapetyan S., Armenian springs, Yerevan.
    2. The "Sheni spring" of Kavahan, http://monuments.nk.am/pages.php?al=home&id=466&act1=more&act=filter&mtype=98&searchword=%D4%BF%D5%A1%D5%BE%D5%A1%D5%B0%D5%A1%D5%B6.
The “Sheni spring” of Kavahan (Ghavakhan) village
The "Sheni spring" of Kavahan (Ghavakhan) village
The "Sheni spring" of Kavahan (Ghavakhan) village
Artsakh