The ancient megalithic complex of Zorats-Karer is located on a mountain plateau, at an altitude of 1770 meters above sea level. It is located near the road, so during a trip to Goris or to the Tatev Monastery, plan a stop for at least an hour near Zorats-Karer. The distance to Goris from Zorats-Karer is 30 km to the southeast, and to the small town of Sisian is only 3 kilometers to the south.
The megalithic complex of Zorats-Karer is also called the Kraunj. During the Bronze Age, there was a settlement of people who created it. Scientists argue both about the age of the Zorats-Karer and about its purpose. The approximate date of creation of the megalithic complex of Zorats-Karer is 5 thousand years ago, although some scientists believe that it was made much later, about 2.5 thousand years ago.
The territory of Zorats-Karer reaches 7 hectares. Up to 200 boulders can be seen here in different places, although the main area looks quite compact. Near the road there is a large circle of stones, and nearby there are stones set in a line. Round holes have been made in some of the stones, and they are very well preserved. There is an assumption that the holes in the stones were made much later than the megalithic complex itself.
The most incredible version says that about 5 thousand years ago people created an ancient observatory here and the stones are placed in a special order for astronomical observations. According to another version, there was an ancient ritual sanctuary where important people were buried. Archaeological excavations have confirmed the presence of graves, and the circle in the center of Zorats-Karer, indeed, resembles an ancient altar. However, the burials of people were not found under all the stones, and they date from different times.
There is also an assumption that the megalithic circles served as a corral for cattle, and holes in the stones were made for a rope that fenced the pens. However, it is unclear why to make a fence for cattle from huge blocks. For thousands of years, people have been making cattle corrals out of ordinary wooden poles. Most likely, the megalithic complex of Zorats-Karer served for ritual purposes, and the cattle corral could have been made here much later, simply by adapting the blocks as a fence.
