MIDDLE EAST HISTORY POLITICS CULTURE XIII MIDDLE EAST XIII | Page 27

3. Since the 1990s a new phase has began in history of research of the problem. Armenian-Italian joint archaeological expedition (S. Hmayakyan, H. Sanamyan and R. Biscione) classified the Sevan Lake basin defense systems, Armenian-American joint expedition (R. Badalyan, A. Smith) - that of Aragatsotn region. During 2011-2014 the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, NAS RA excavated in sites Margahovit (Lori region), Sotk 1, Sotk 2 and Norabak 1 (Gegharkunik region), with special reference to investigation of fortification systems in order to date them: already the first results are apparent, which allow separate distinguishing features among Bronze and Iron Age defensive structures. 27