Yelpin
Encyclopedia
Yelpin is a village community located in the South-West of Armenia
in Vayots Dzor
province (marz
). It is located 97 km away from Yerevan
and 27 km away from provincial center Yeghegnadzor
. It borders with Autonomous Republic of Nakhijevan (Azerbaijan
) in South, with lands of Zangakatun
community (Ararat
province) in West, with Chivagyugh community (Vayots Dzor
province) in South-West. Community lands stretch from 1400 to 2800m, whereas the settlement itself is located at 1545m above the sea level.
Number of households -378, houses- 273, families- 200 (as of 2007). Main occupations of the community members are gardening, land cultivation, animal husbandry, poultry farming and bee-keeping.
and Salmast. The community was founded in the place of Nrbuyn village, and inherited its name, which gradually transformed- Nrbuyn, Nrbin, Irpin and finally Yelpin. Famous Armenian historian Stepanos Orbelian
, in his book Patmutyun Sisakan, (History of Sis) mentions Adopen, Khndzorut, Kechut, Chochanak, Chavadzor, Mokhrot and other historical places to be located in the administrative territory of Yelpin. However, the territory of Yelpin was inhabited since the Stone Age
, evidence of which can be found in numerous caves in the vicinity. The Bronze Age
is the best represented and archaeological expeditions are very active in the area. Here were found numerous artifacts, such as stone and metal instruments, arms, pottery and many others, which are kept in the Yeghegnadzor
ethnographic museum.
The community is surrounded by monasteries and structures having cultural value. To the North-West from the village, remnants of medieval fortress can be found, 10 km away there are numerous ancient decorated gravestones. Following the old way to Aghavnadzor, remnants of Geshin settlement can be found, which has a famous cave in the nearby․ To the South-East of the village, there is a 14th century sanctuary of Toukh Manuk and medieval Didivan monastery in Gndasar, preserved from the times of Bagratuni dynasty. Not far away from the community there is a Noravank
monastic complex (XII c), which is also a UNESCO
heritage site. In 2005 a new church was built in the village center.
Flora
The flora of the area is quite rich. The vicinities of Yelpin have always been known for their abundance of alpine herbs and officinal plants. In the ancient times there was an alpine settlement of seyids (medicine people), who practiced phytotherapy
and traditional medicine. The most common used were mentha
, rosa canina, Armenian ginseng and many others. There are numerous endemic and endangered plants registered in the national Red Book
, such as Pragnos lophoptera, Seseli leptocladium (endemic), Cephalorrinhus Kirpicznikovii, Hieracium pannosum, Steptorhamphus Czerepanovii, Acanthophyllum pungens, Astragalus karakuschensis, Vicia cappadocica, Hipericum formosissimum, Crocus speciosus. Gladiolus atroviolaceus, Iris caucasicus, Iris pseudocaucasica, Juglans regia, Salvia grossheimii, Allium akkaka, Asphodeline dendroides, Secale Vavilovii, Triticum boeoticum.
Fauna
The vicinities of the Yelpin community are known for its fauna, especially birds. The Red Book
animals and birds are the following: Ursus arctos syriacus, Capra aegarus aegarus, Accipiter brevipes, Ciraetus gallicus gallicus, Lanius senator niloticus, Silvia hortensis crassirostris, Luscinia svecica accidentalis, Irania gutturalis, Sitta tephronota obscura, Tichodroma muraria, Carposiza brachidactyla, Eumeces schnederi, Mabuya aurata, Vipera raddei.
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
in Vayots Dzor
Vayots Dzor
Vayots Dzor is a province of Armenia. It lies in the south-east of the country, bordering the Nakhichevan exclave of Azerbaijan in the west and the Azerbaijan in the east. It covers an area of 2,308 km². With a population of only 53,230 , it is the most sparsely populated province in the country...
province (marz
Administrative divisions of Armenia
Armenia is subdivided into eleven administrative divisions. Of these, ten are provinces, known as marzer or in the singular form marz in Armenian....
). It is located 97 km away from Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
and 27 km away from provincial center Yeghegnadzor
Yeghegnadzor
Yeghegnadzor is the capital of the Armenian province of Vayots Dzor. The name of the city means "the valley of canes" in the Armenian language. During Joseph Stalin's time, the city was renamed after Soviet politician Anastas Mikoyan...
. It borders with Autonomous Republic of Nakhijevan (Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
) in South, with lands of Zangakatun
Zangakatun
Zangakatun is a town in the Ararat Province of Armenia. Zangakatun is the birthplace and burial site of Paruyr Sevak; his house is a museum. The town also has a tenth century chapel.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
community (Ararat
Ararat (province)
Ararat is a province of Armenia with capital in Artashat. Named after Mount Ararat, the province borders Turkey to the west and Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to the south...
province) in West, with Chivagyugh community (Vayots Dzor
Vayots Dzor
Vayots Dzor is a province of Armenia. It lies in the south-east of the country, bordering the Nakhichevan exclave of Azerbaijan in the west and the Azerbaijan in the east. It covers an area of 2,308 km². With a population of only 53,230 , it is the most sparsely populated province in the country...
province) in South-West. Community lands stretch from 1400 to 2800m, whereas the settlement itself is located at 1545m above the sea level.
Number of households -378, houses- 273, families- 200 (as of 2007). Main occupations of the community members are gardening, land cultivation, animal husbandry, poultry farming and bee-keeping.
History
Yelpin community was established in 1828, after Russo-Persian War (1826-1828). The founders (ethnic Armenians) fled from Persian regions of KhoyKhoy
Khoy is a city in and the capital of Khoy County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 178,708, in 45,090 families....
and Salmast. The community was founded in the place of Nrbuyn village, and inherited its name, which gradually transformed- Nrbuyn, Nrbin, Irpin and finally Yelpin. Famous Armenian historian Stepanos Orbelian
Stepanos Orbelian
Stepanos Orbelian was a thirteenth century Armenian historian and the Metropolitan of the province of Syunik. He is known for writing his well-researched Patmut'yun Nahangin Sisakan, or History of the Province of Syunik.-Biography:...
, in his book Patmutyun Sisakan, (History of Sis) mentions Adopen, Khndzorut, Kechut, Chochanak, Chavadzor, Mokhrot and other historical places to be located in the administrative territory of Yelpin. However, the territory of Yelpin was inhabited since the Stone Age
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
, evidence of which can be found in numerous caves in the vicinity. The Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
is the best represented and archaeological expeditions are very active in the area. Here were found numerous artifacts, such as stone and metal instruments, arms, pottery and many others, which are kept in the Yeghegnadzor
Yeghegnadzor
Yeghegnadzor is the capital of the Armenian province of Vayots Dzor. The name of the city means "the valley of canes" in the Armenian language. During Joseph Stalin's time, the city was renamed after Soviet politician Anastas Mikoyan...
ethnographic museum.
Culture
Noravank
Noravank is a 13th century Armenian Apostolic Church monastery, located 122 km from Yerevan in a narrow gorge made by the Amaghu river, nearby the city of Yeghegnadzor, Armenia. The gorge is known for its tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs, directly across from the monastery. The monastery is best...
monastic complex (XII c), which is also a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
heritage site. In 2005 a new church was built in the village center.
Nature
The flora of the area is quite rich. The vicinities of Yelpin have always been known for their abundance of alpine herbs and officinal plants. In the ancient times there was an alpine settlement of seyids (medicine people), who practiced phytotherapy
Phytotherapy
Phytotherapy is the study of the use of extracts from natural origin as medicines or health-promoting agents.Traditional phytotherapy is often used as synonym for herbalism and regarded as "alternative medicine" by much of Western medicine, although effects of many substances found in plants have...
and traditional medicine. The most common used were mentha
Mentha
Mentha is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae . The species are not clearly distinct and estimates of the number of species varies from 13 to 18. Hybridization between some of the species occurs naturally...
, rosa canina, Armenian ginseng and many others. There are numerous endemic and endangered plants registered in the national Red Book
Regional Red List
A Regional Red List is a report of the threatened status of species within a certain country or region. It is based on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, an inventory of the conservation status of species on a global scale...
, such as Pragnos lophoptera, Seseli leptocladium (endemic), Cephalorrinhus Kirpicznikovii, Hieracium pannosum, Steptorhamphus Czerepanovii, Acanthophyllum pungens, Astragalus karakuschensis, Vicia cappadocica, Hipericum formosissimum, Crocus speciosus. Gladiolus atroviolaceus, Iris caucasicus, Iris pseudocaucasica, Juglans regia, Salvia grossheimii, Allium akkaka, Asphodeline dendroides, Secale Vavilovii, Triticum boeoticum.
Fauna
The vicinities of the Yelpin community are known for its fauna, especially birds. The Red Book
Regional Red List
A Regional Red List is a report of the threatened status of species within a certain country or region. It is based on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, an inventory of the conservation status of species on a global scale...
animals and birds are the following: Ursus arctos syriacus, Capra aegarus aegarus, Accipiter brevipes, Ciraetus gallicus gallicus, Lanius senator niloticus, Silvia hortensis crassirostris, Luscinia svecica accidentalis, Irania gutturalis, Sitta tephronota obscura, Tichodroma muraria, Carposiza brachidactyla, Eumeces schnederi, Mabuya aurata, Vipera raddei.