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Akhtakhana 17 Monuments

Iran (Country) / Western Atrpatakan (Province) / Salmast (District) / Akhtakhana (Village)

Location

Akhtakhana is situated 10.4 km east of Salmast, in a plain lying at an average altitude of 1,318 metres. It is within almost the same distance of the initial shore of Lake Urmia.

With a surface area of approximately 5,200 sq. km, Urmia was the largest of the 3 major lakes in the Armenian Highland and the Near East up until the late 20th century. Since then its surface has been continuously shrinking due to the vast use of the water of the rivers flowing into it, and the pumping of groundwater from the surrounding area. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 99.

About a century ago, the village was surrounded with swamps; moreover, the very place of its location was described as marshland: “[The village] is situated in a wetland right of [the River] Zola, within 7.5 versts of Diliman.” Another record states the following: “The village has a lot of pastures or, to put it more exactly, swamps covered with grass which are very harmful both for the population (as they can cause malaria) and for the stock.”

A. Atayan, Salmast, (New Jugha, 1906), p. 42. Իրազեկ, «Քեափալագ» [Irazek, “Kyapalag”], «Հորիզոն» [Horizon], no. 46, 3 March 1917, p. 3. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 99.

Historical Introduction

Judging from the monuments, and particularly, from the Armenian cemetery of Akhtakhana, the village does not have a very old history.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 99.

As for the available written records, they mostly refer to the events of the early 20th century. Thus, one of them says that on 21 October 1907, some Kurds “stole the sheep of Akhtekhana grazing on the slopes of Mount Pir Chavush, which is situated in the south-east of the district.”

«Վտակ» [Vtak], no. 4, 24 November 1907, p. 4; no. 32, 27 December 1907, p. 2. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 99.

Perhaps encouraged by the unpunished theft of the sheep, the Kurds invaded the village in February of the following year: “They attempted to attack the village of Akhtakhana, having a mixed population of Armenians and Persians, for the purpose of plundering it. However, they were bitterly punished for this. About 30 to 40 armed Kurds on horseback (Kartars) invaded the village in the shroud of night darkness and started plundering the houses. A large group of Kurds jumped over the wall surrounding the house of a rich Persian, went inside and started gathering the valuable utensils found there. The house owner tried to resist, but he received several dagger blows and fell down, wounded. Seeing his condition from the next room, his son took a rifle, climbed to the roof and killed the Kurds’ leader Hajo from the yerdik8 right on the spot. The sides started shooting at each other. Soon a considerable number of armed Persians from the adjacent villages rushed to their rescue: joined by several Akhtakhana Armenians, also armed, they forced the Kurds to take to their heels. During the fighting, 3 Kurds were killed and 4 injured, the other side having only a single wounded man, the aforementioned Persian. Fearing the Kurds’ possible revenge, the inhabitants of Akhtakhana turned to the Anjuman of Salmast for support and protection, but the latter did nothing more than advising them to acquire arms and prepare for self-defence.”

An opening in the ceiling for letting in light and letting out smoke. Վ. Մ.-եան /Վահան Ղուկասյան/, Պարսկաստան. Պարսկա-թրքական սահմանագլուխ [V. M.-ian /Vahan Ghukassian/, “Persia: The Persian-Turkish Borderline”], «Երիտասարդ Հայաստան» [Yeritasard Hayastan], no. 41, 15 April 1908, p. 273. Another article written on 10 March 1908 states the following about this raid: “Some time ago, a group of 50 Kurdish bandits attacked the village of Akht[a]khana to plunder it, but they were met with resistance put up by both the Armenians and Turks: the inhabitants of Baghjajuk and Ghezelja came to rescue their neighbours just in the heat of the fighting. The Kurds suffered two losses and three casualties, but anyway, they managed to steal some house utensils at a total cost of about 400 tumans, causing a slight injury to the old Turk whom they had robbed [italics added]” (Ցոլակ, թղթակցություն [Tsolak, “A Letter”], «Մշակ» [Mshak], no. 64, 21 March 1908, p. 1). Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.

In December 1914 Akhtakhana suffered several raids by the Turks and Kurds, in consequence of which, it was plundered and destroyed, 6 of the locals being killed.

Հայկազուն /Գևորգ Չիլինգարյան/, Սալմաստի կոտորածների շուրջը [Haykazoun /Gevorg Chilingarian/, “About the Massacres of Salmast”], «Մշակ» [Mshak], no. 73, 10 April 1915, p. 1. Also see «Հնչակ» [Hnchak], no. 3, August 1915, p. 19. Those killed were Harutiun and Salbi Khudoyan, Sargis Avagian, Hakhverdi as well as Avetik and Nazlu Khudaverdian (Աւագեանց Ս., Կոտորածը Սալմաստում [S. Avagiants, The Massacre in Salmast] (Tiflis, 1915), p. 23). Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.

Population

The available data regarding the ethnic composition and number of the population of Akhtakhana show that apart from the Armenians,11 the village also had some Iranian Turks. In 1896, for instance, the latter formed 130 houses, this number being three times as large as that of the Armenians.

In 1908 mention was made of an inhabitant of Akhtakhana, Soghomon Abrahamian, who accompanied some Armenian hayduks to Khantakht together with his friend, Sargis Sarukhanian from Ghalasar (Ա. Ա., Արծիւների մօտ (Քառասուն եւ երկու տարի առաջ) [A. A., “With the Eagles” (Forty-Two Years Ago)], «Ալիք» [Alik], no. 180, 13 August 1950, p. 2). Պալունի, Վիճակագրական տեղեկութիւն Սալմաստ գաւառի հայ ազգաբնակութեան [Palouny, “Statistical Data Regarding the Armenian Population in Salmast District”], «Նոր-Դար» [Nor-Dar], no. 216, 10 December 1896, p. 3. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.

Early in 1917, Akhtakhana, which had been totally emptied of its native inhabitants, was re-populated with “14 families of emigrants from Khrep Village of Moks District. Part of them had been able to bring some stock, particularly sheep [to their new place of living], but 327 of them fell victim to a disease that had been caused by the nearby swamps.”

Իրազեկ, «Քեափալագ» [Irazek, “Kyapalag”], «Հորիզոն» [Horizon], no. 46, 3 March 1917, p. 3. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.

The village probably had some Armenian inhabitants up until the mid-1940s for it was mentioned as having an Armenian school during that period.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.

During our visit to Akhtakhana, in 2011, it was entirely inhabited by Iranian Turks who formed 144 houses with 500 inhabitants.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.

Name Origin

The village has also been mentioned by the names of Akhdakhana, Akhtakh, Akhtekhana and Akhtkhana.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 99.

The toponym derives from the Persian words akhta, meaning a gelding, and khana, meaning a place; so Akhtakhana means a Special Place for Geldings. It is traditionally held that “once the village had an overlord whom the local inhabitants paid a tribute in barley and hay for his horses; hence comes the village name.” Another interpretation suggests that Akhtakhana is a distorted form of the Persian word raftarkhana meaning an inn or a custom-house.

.٢٥ ﺹ ,١٣٨٨ ,ﺱﺎﻤﻠﺳ ,ﺱﺎﻤﻠﺳ ﻯﻧﺎﺘﺳﺎﺑ ﻱﺎﻫﺎﻨﺑ ,ﻯﻧﺎﺠﻧﺮﻫﺍ ﻯﻧﺎﻤﺣﺭ ﺩﺍﺩﺮﻬﻣ [Mihrdat Rahmani Ahrenjani, The Historical Monuments of Salmast] (Salmast, 1388),, p. 25. Atayan, pp. 41-42. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 99.

Priests

In 1875 and 1896 Akhtakhana had a single priest.

Ararat, no. 3 (1876), p. 110. Պալունի, Վիճակագրական տեղեկութիւն Սալմաստ գաւառի հայ ազգաբնակութեան [Palouny, “Statistical Data Regarding the Armenian Population in Salmast District”], «Նոր-Դար» [Nor-Dar], no. 216, 10 December 1896, p. 3. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 105.

In 1898 “Prelate Ayvatian telegraphed the priest of Akhtakhana, Tadevos, commissioning him to replace Archimandrite Khachik and oversee the people until his return.”

Ս., Նամակ Պարսկաստանից [S., “A Letter from Persia”], «Մշակ» [Mshak], no. 208, 14 November 1898, p. 3. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 105.

Economic Life

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, “the soil [in Akhtakhana] is state-owned, while the houses are within the possessions of about twenty beys.”

Աթայեան Ա., Սալմաստ [A. Atayan, Salmast] (New Jugha, 1906), p. 42. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.

As the village did not boast large supplies of water, the locals had thought of a peculiar way of meeting this vital need: “They use the water of [the River] Zola [reaching the village] through a canal as well as the water of the mineral springs running at the foot of the hill Prchavush [Pir Chavush].”

Աթայեան Ա., Սալմաստ [A. Atayan, Salmast] (New Jugha, 1906), p. 42. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.

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Author Google Earth
Source Non-Specified
Date 2010 y․

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Akhdakhana
Akhtakh

Akhtkhana

Below follow the available statistical data regarding the Armenian population of Akhtakhana during the period between the mid-19th and early 20th centuries:

Dates	Armenian Houses	Armenians (Male)	Armenians (Female)	Total (Armenians)	Notes	Source
1860	19	69	58	127		Մխիթարեանց Ա., Ցուցակ որքանութեան ազգի հայոց ի վիճակին Ատրպատականի ի Պարսկաստան, ըստ տանց նոցին, ըստ արական և իգական սեռից յիւրաքանչիւր գաւառս [A. Mkhitariants, “A Statistical List of Armenians in the Prelacy of Atrpatakan, Persia, as per Houses, Males and Females in Every District”], «Համբաւաբեր Ռուսիոյ» [Hambavaber Rusio], no. 30, 20 September 1862, p. 1. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.
1875	28	123	89	212		Ararat, no. 3 (1876), p. 110. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.
1893	40					Ուղեւոր, Սալմաստ [Ughevor, “Salmast”], «Արմէնիա» [Armenia], no. 31, 3 January 1894, p. 1. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.
1895	46	162	175	337		Պարսկահայք. Սալմաստի վիճակագրութիւն [“Persian Armenia: A Statistical Survey of Salmast”], «Արարատ» [Ararat], no. 2 (1896), p. 94. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.
1896	45	193	143	336		Պալունի, Վիճակագրական տեղեկութիւն Սալմաստ գաւառի հայ ազգաբնակութեան [Palouny, “Statistical Data Regarding the Armenian Population in Salmast District”], «Նոր-Դար» [Nor-Dar], no. 216, 10 December 1896, p. 3. These numbers also include 59 of the locals who were migrant workers. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.
1898	46	193	144	337		Տեղագրութիւն թեմին հայոց Ատրպատականի [“Topography of the Armenian Prelacy of Atrpatakan”], «Արարատ» [Ararat], nos. 11-12 (1898), p. 505. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.
1905	60	144	161	305		G. Hovsepian’s Archives, folder 91, document 14, p. 11. Also see Atayan, p. 42. The statistical information provided by this author is as follows: the Armenians were 305 (177 males and 128 females) in number, with 229 (132 males and 97 females, including 82 migrant workers) natives, and 76 (45 males and 31 females, including 16 migrant workers) newcomers (ibid., insert). In the same year, Akhtakhana also had about 100 houses of Iranian Turks (Materials for the History of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Party, vol. 4, p. 267). Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.
1912	60					Գուլօեան Աւ., Նամակներ Սալմաստից [Av. Gouloyan, “Letters from Salmast”], «Հորիզոն» [Horizon], no. 147, 11 July 1912, pp. 3-4. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.
1914	80					Հայոց ցեղասպանությունը Օսմանյան Թուրքիայում. վերապրածների վկայություններ [The Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey: Testimonies of Survivors (a Collection of Documents)], vol. 3 (Yerevan, 2012), p. 376. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.
1915	16					Հայկազուն /Գևորգ Չիլինգարյան/, Սալմաստի կոտորածների շուրջը [Haykazoun /Gevorg Chilingarian/, “About the Massacres of Salmast”], «Մշակ» [Mshak], no. 73, 10 April 1915, p. 1. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.
1927	8			30		Իրանեան Վ. /Վաղինակ Սարգսյան/, Քիչ մը պատմութիւն Սալմաստի աղէտին առթիւ [V. Iranian /Vaghinak Sargissian/, “Some Information about the Tragedy of Salmast”], «Յառաջ» [Haraj], no. 1283, 7 June 1930, p. 2. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 100.