2,600-Year-Old Painted Mural With Vivid Colors Discovered at Armenia’s Ancient Erebuni Fortress

A joint French-Armenian archaeological team has uncovered a rare painted mural fragment at Armenia’s ancient Erebuni Fortress, revealing artwork that has retained its vivid colors for more than 2,600 years.

The discovery, announced by the French Embassy in Armenia, is considered unprecedented. Archaeologists believe the mural dates to the second half of the seventh century BC or the beginning of the sixth century BC, during the final centuries of the Kingdom of Urartu.

The remarkably preserved fragment offers a rare look at the artistic traditions of one of the ancient Near East’s most influential civilizations. Its exceptional condition is expected to provide researchers with valuable new insights into the techniques, materials, and visual culture of the Urartian period.

The French Embassy said the discovery also highlights the long-standing archaeological partnership between France and Armenia. Joint research projects at Erebuni have played an important role in uncovering and preserving the country's ancient heritage, with international cooperation continuing to advance the study of the site.

Founded in 782 BC by Urartian King Argishti I, Erebuni is one of Armenia’s most important archaeological landmarks and the fortress from which modern-day Yerevan traces its origins. Excavations there have uncovered palaces, temples, inscriptions, and works of art that continue to deepen historians’ understanding of the ancient Kingdom of Urartu.

The newly discovered mural now joins that growing collection of finds, offering another rare window into a civilization that shaped the history of the Armenian Highlands more than two and a half millennia ago.

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