Dr. Nzhdeh Yeranyan, cultural anthropologist specializing in the preservation and management of cultural heritage, particularly in crisis, conflict, and post-conflict situations. His research focuses on the colonial and postcolonial archaeology of Armenia, the BronzeIron Age landscape, and the preservation of the cultural heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the protection of museums and collections. He is the Deputy Scientific Director of the History Museum of Armenia, Lecturer in the Department of Cultural Studies at Yerevan State University, and is currently a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Cornell University.

The impact of the 2020 Artsakh War and the 2023 forced expulsion on the region’s cultural heritage, especially its museums, was devastating. Over 40 state and private museums and their collections were left behind in areas now controlled by Azerbaijan (including the Stepanakert Museum, the entrance to which is shown above). This presentation will highlight the deliberate targeting of cultural and educational institutions during the conflict, emphasizing that such actions constitute war crimes
under international law. It will also explore the critical role these museums played in community life and reflect on the heightened vulnerability of museums, as their collections—unlike immovable heritage— cannot be remotely monitored. Finally, the presentation will address the ongoing challenges facing these museums and the broader implications of cultural loss.

CO-SPONSORS:

Armenian Museum of America

Mashtots Chair in Armenian Studies at Harvard University

The Society for Armenian Studies (SAS)

NAASR / Calouste Gulbenkian Lecture Series on Contemporary Armenian Issues