Traces of strong earthquakes of the 9th century in the ruins of Dvin, ancient Armenian Capital

Abstract

The results of an archeoseismological investigation of the Dvin (ancient Armenian capital) ruins are presented. Multiple occasions of seismogenic damage and destructions have been revealed in the remains of walls, including places where they are tilted or pushed out, or fragments and particular stone blocks are rotated. The extensive cracks that run through several blocks have also been found. The identified systematics in how deformations occurred suggests that the epicenter of the ancient earthquake that struck Dvin in the late 9th century was located close to the city. Most likely, the western termination of an unnamed east-tonortheast trending fault (situated north of the city) was ruptured.