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Baralet 22 Monuments

Georgia (Country) / Javakhk (District) / Akhalkalak (District) / Baralet (Village)

Location

The village is situated on both banks of the tributary Akhalkalak, 16 kilometres north of Akhalkalak City in a straight line, between 1,690 and 1,700 metres of altitude above sea level.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 101.

Historical Introduction

In the course of excavations conducted in the ancient site of Mokhrablur (Natsargora in Georgian), the scholars unearthed a bronze astronomical calendar of the 1st millennium B.C. (it is now exhibited in Akhalkalak’s Museum of Regional Studies). Parallels of this calendar have been found in a number of ancient sites in Armenia.

For details regarding the astronomical calendar, see Տոնականյան Հ., Աստղագիտական օրացույցների մասին.– «Արվեստ», 1990, N 9, էջ 54-59: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 101.

One of the historical villages in Javakhk, Baralet has been inhabited by Armenians since at least the early Middle Ages. The eloquent proof of this is a cemetery extending around a once standing chapel and retaining medieval gravestones with Armenian epitaphs.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 101.

1595 y․

According to the გურjისტანის ვილაიეთის დიდი დავთარი (1595), which mentions the village by the name of Baralis, it comprised 21 houses (a considerable part of the names of the local inhabitants found in this source are of Armenian origin) and paid 25,000 akches to the State Treasury.

“გურჯისტანის ვილაიეთის დიდი დავთარი”, էջ 196: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 101.

1745 y․

A document of 1745 reveals that Baralet and Kokia ranked among the most populous villages of the district and were known as centres of trade: “...Baralet represents a small town whose population includes Meskhetians, Armenians and Jewish merchants...”

Մելիքսեթ-Բեկ Լ., Վրաց աղբյուրները Հայաստանի և հայերի մասին, հ. Գ, էջ 84: Also see ვახუშტი ვახუშტი ბაგრატიონი, საქართველოს გეოგრაფია, თბილისი, 1997, էջ 131: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 101.

In 1755 Baralet suffered devastation and plunder by the Lezghin invaders: “...the Lezghins are depredating the Turkish land: they have already devastated Gokia (Kokia) and Baralet, robbed the [local] Christians and taken them captive...” Another record states the following with regard to these events: “...likewise they advanced to Javakhet, devastated Baralet, took a large number of trophies and moved them to Pambak...”

Մելիքսեթ-Բեկ Լ., Վրաց աղբյուրները Հայաստանի և հայերի մասին, հ. Գ, Երևան, 1955, էջ 108, 145: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 101.

Baralet was the central village of the northern part of Akhalkalak District: “The Police Officer of the first part of the district, Khachatur Metzatuniants, lives in this village.”

«Նոր-Դար», 1895, N 150, էջ 3: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, pp. 101-102.

Population
1829 y․

Part of the present-day inhabitants of Baralet are natives of the village (the local people call them Yerlakans). The forefathers of the other part of Baralet’s population moved here from the district of Artahan in 1829.

As stated in a legend wide-spread among the inhabitants of Kotelia (it was recorded by N. Berdzenishvili in 1933), it was King David the Builder (1089 to 1125) who allegedly populated Baralet with Armenians (ბერძენიშვილი ნ., idem, p. 143). Լալայան Ե., Երկեր, հ. 1, Երևան, 1983, էջ 59: Also see «Նոր-Դար», 1895, N 150, էջ 3: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.

The epitaphs preserved in the old cemetery of the village show that it provided housing for some Armenians from Alashkert as well. The descendants of the Khechoyans’ family living in Baralet attest that they are from Artsakh (Republic of Nagorno Karabakh) in origin. After World War II, 5 families from Samsar came to add to the number of the local population.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.

1895 y․

Baralet was one of those few villages of Javakhk which had a heterogeneous population, with a small number of Georgians living side by side with the Armenians who were in the majority. Thus, in 1873 the 2/3rds of the 80 houses of the village were inhabited by Armenians, and 1/3 by Georgians.

«Արարատ», 1873, էջ 389: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.

1884 y․

In 1884 it comprised 46 Armenian houses and the same number of Georgian ones with 2 Turkish families.

«Արձագանք», 1885, N 3, էջ 43: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.

1895 y․

Beginning with the late 19th century, the Georgian population of Baralet manifested increase in their number: thus, in 1895 the village had a total of 120 houses, 65 of which belonged to the Armenians, and 55 to the Georgians.

«Նոր-Դար», 1895, N150, էջ 3: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.

1896 y․

In 1896 the local residents constituted 109 houses, 91 of which were inhabited by Armenians, and the rest by Georgians.

«Մուրճ», 1896, N 12, էջ 1642: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.

1899 y․

In 1899 Baralet had a population of 1,038 souls, including 688 Armenians and 354 Georgians.

«Մշակ», 1900, N 43, էջ 2: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.

1914 y․

In 1914 the Armenian and Georgian inhabitants of Baralet totaled 1,290 souls together.

“Кавказский календарь на 1915 г.”, Тифлис, 1914, стр. 96: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.

1987 y․

In 1987 the village had 263 houses (1,087 souls) of Armenians and Georgians.

As attested by the documents provided by the Village Council. Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.

2001 y․

In 2001 it comprised 270 houses, 48 of which belonged to the Georgians.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.

Baralet participated in World War II with 290 of its inhabitants, 137 of whom were killed on the battle-field.

Դավթյան Ա., Ջավախք, Երևան, 1994, էջ 101: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.

1989 y․

In 1989 the Georgian authorities attempted to build houses for the Ajar newcomers in Baralet, but the local Armenians refused to allocate any territories to them.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.

2004 y․

In 2004 the village had a population of 300 houses, including 260 Armenian and 40 Georgian ones.

მაისურაძე კ., ჯავახეთში ქართული სკოლები იხურდება, “Georgian Times”, N 24, 17-24.06.2004. Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.

1990 y․

Sharing the fate of the other villages of Javakhk, Baralet saw the emigration of its Armenian inhabitants beginning with the 1990s. With this regard, a Javakhk-based Georgian correspondent wrote the following: “I remember that during Gamsakhurdia’s presidency, all the local Armenians were ready to run away with their belongings packed. If Gamsakhurdia had not been overthrown so unexpectedly, no Armenians would have remained in Baraleti.”

მაისურაძე კ., ჯავახეთში ქართული სკოლები იხურდება, “Georgian Times”, N 24, 17-24.06.2004. We wonder whether the editorial staff of the “Georgian Times” and the Georgian nation in general share the author’s strong desire to live to see Javakhk absolutely stripped of all its Armenian inhabitants. Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.

Construction Activity
19 c․

A visitor of the late 19th century writes: “The Armenians’ and Georgians’ houses are built side by side. All of them represent low, damp and single-floor buildings of stone adjoining each other and covered with earthen roofs. The streets are narrow, irregular and crooked. In the distance stand out the village churches, one of which belongs to the Armenians and the other to the Georgians, as well as the two-year royal college, the only building throughout the district existing since 1893... The local people get potable water from a stream flowing in the middle of the village, for there are no springs there. This stream, which has clean, pure and salubrious water, takes source in the springs running from the foot of the nearby hills of Janjgha; this is the reason why the inhabitants of Baralet call this stream Janjghayi Joor, i.e. Water of Janjgha. The village is bare of gardens, but it has four mills built over the stream. A number of ordinary trees grow in the middle of the village. In the south of the village extend the meadows of the local inhabitants, whose main occupation is farming. Some of them also deal in wood which they get in a neighbouring forest called Bakuria and take to Akhalkalak for sale...”

At present local people know it by the name of Baraleti Get, i.e. River of Baralet. «Նոր-Դար», 1895, N 150, էջ 3: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.

Type Photo
View General
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Baralis	1595 y․

The statistical records relating to the number of the Armenian population of the village between the 19th and 20th centuries represent the following picture:

Dates	Armenian Houses	Armenians (Male)	Armenians (Female)	Total (Armenians)	Notes	Source
1840		158	116	274		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3800, թ. 4: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1841		188	166	254		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3802, թ. 62-63: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1842		193	170	363		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3805, թ. 76-77: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1844		203	181	384		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3809, թ. 16-17: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1845		223	210	433		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3811, թ. 71-72: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1847		160	170	330		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3814, թ. 33-34: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1849		149	141	290		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3818, թ. 40-41: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1851	38	152	143	295		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 56, ց. 1, գ. 2596, թ. 30: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1853		162	168	330		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 2743, թ. 37-38: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1854		165	171	336		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3825, թ. 48-49: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1857		184	184	368		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3830, թ. 53-54: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1860	35	203	196	399		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3833, թ. 65-66: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1861	43	200	197	397		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3839, թ. 26-27: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1862	43	206	203	409		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3836, թ. 21-22: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1863		212	211	423		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3843, թ. 21-22: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1864	43	221	213	434		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3846, թ. 8-9: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1866	43	222	218	440		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3848, թ. 74: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1867		226	242	468		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3851, թ. 20-21: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1868		231	243	474		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3853, թ. 28: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1869		340	344	684		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3856, թ. 10: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 102.
1870		348	351	699		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3857, թ. 24: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1871		332	357	689		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3858, թ. 10-11: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1872		339	359	698		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3859, թ. 57-58: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1873		351	365	716		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3862, թ. 70-71: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1874				730		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3864, թ. 27-28: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1875	40			718		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3866, թ. 20-21: Also see «Մեղու Հայաստանի», 1875, N 44, էջ 2: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1876		365	372	737		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3868, թ. 30-31: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1877		223	215	438		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3869, թ. 29-30: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1878		224	221	445		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3850, թ. 218-219: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1880		235	229	464		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3872, թ. 88-89: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1881		236	238	474		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3873, թ. 97-98: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1882		243	232	475		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3874, թ. 43-44: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1883		250	240	490		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3875, թ. 48-49: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1885		258	240	498		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3877, թ. 14: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1887		266	260	526		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3880, թ. 40-41: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1889		283	271	554		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3884, թ. 65-66: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1890		289	279	568		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3887, թ. 146: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1891		301	291	592		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3889, թ. 145: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1892		288	284	572		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3891, թ. 117: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1893	50	291	295	586		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3895, թ. 42-43: Also see «Մուրճ», 1894, N 5, էջ 795: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1894		300	308	608		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3896, թ. 170-171: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1897		353	335	688		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3899, թ. 143-144: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1898		373	343	722		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3897, թ. 166: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1899		352	336	688		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3903, թ. 101-102: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1900		370	348	718		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3905, թ. 52: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1901		381	356	737		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3906, թ. 68: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1902		391	368	759		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3907, թ. 20-21: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1905		418	420	838		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3912, թ. 263-264: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1908	78	450	437	887		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 35, ց. 1, գ. 559, թ. 43: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1910		477	484	961		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3917, թ. 135-136: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1912		500	527	1027		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3920, թ. 18-19: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1916		539	552	1091		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 196, ց. 1, գ. 43, թ. 21-22: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.
1921		163	137	300		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 355, ց. 1, գ. 895, թ. 1: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 103.