The Armenian Monuments Awareness Project has launched its Armenian Heritage website, introduced at a presentation Thursday that also was a summary of AMAP’s three years of cultural projects.

The website – www.armenianmonuments.org -- is unique in its kind, presenting in five languages comprehensive and detailed descriptions of Armenian monuments, hundreds of photos along with practical information and GPS maps. It consists of three parts: Discover Armenia’s Monuments, Research and Conservation and Learning Resources. The Research and Conservation part invites historians and scholars to submit research papers and create a forum to discuss debatable historical facts and theories. MP3 downloadable audio files are also available (so far for five sites) to serve as Audio Tours for visitors. It also offers monument-related learning resources and lesson plans for teachers and students. As AMAP’s chief of party Rick Ney says, the website will continuously grow and expand.

“In some sense the website is a culmination of our work - it includes everything we’ve done so far and gives us a sense of what yet needs to be done,” Ney said.

AMAP was established in 2008 to fill the need for Armenia’s rich cultural heritage to be properly presented to the world. For the first time colorful multi-language panels (in Armenian, Russian, English, Italian and French) started appearing at most popular tourist destinations which lacked any signs that would explain to the visitors what they were looking at. The project then expanded its range and covered less known sites, marked nature and discovery trails, started community development works. The panels turned from tourist-oriented into an educational resource for the locals as well as visitors.

Ney believes that the project is assisting the Armenian heritage and ancient culture to be presented in accordance with the demands of the technology age as well as hopes that it can help socially vulnerable communities in the vicinity of monuments to make use of opportunities to develop income-generating activities. At the same time, he thinks that would make those communities take better care of the monuments.

“Raising awareness, preservation of cultural heritage and community development, these are the three main goals AMAP is pursuing. It is gratifying to know that what we are doing can actually help make people’s lives better and also present to the world the wonderful heritage that Armenia has,” says Ney.

During the three years of its existence AMAP has made installations at 174 Armenian cultural historical heritage sites, such as Garni, Geghard, Tatev Monastery, Haghpat, Sanahin, Sevan Monasteries, and others, placing 264 multi-language information panels and 281 road signs, has printed and distributed 2,150 laminated sheets in six additional languages and 250,000 brochures, 32 Brail panels in five language.

The project has been sponsored by: VivaCel-MTS, Honorary Council in Gyumri Antonio Montalto, USAID/CAPS, and partly the US Ambassador’s Cultural Fund and the Norwegian Honorary Council; and in partnership with a number of governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Following the development of the website, AMAP has suspended its activity, pending resumption of funding.