Godedzor

Godedzor is a significant prehistoric archaeological site near the Vorotan river in Armenia, occupied primarily during the Chalcolithic period. The site served as a seasonal hub for pastoralists due to its high-altitude location and snow-covered winters. It is renowned for its distinctive obsidian artifacts, facilitated by proximity to Syunik obsidian sources, making it a key center for obsidian trade across the South Caucasus and beyond. Cultural links with the Near East are evident in the pottery, which shows connections to the Ubaid culture yet indicates local developments. The subsistence strategy of the inhabitants included agriculture, predominantly cereal crops, and animal husbandry, with goats and cattle being most common. Godedzor offers insights into the transition from Chalcolithic to Kura-Araxes cultures, emphasizing the continuity of cereal-focused agriculture in the region.