The false and unfounded notion that history is merely a collection of dates has long been discredited. History is always much more than just numbers, dates, or the sequence of events. When history becomes visible, tangible, and experiential, it transforms into reality—shaping not only knowledge but also skills and understanding in students. A traditional stop on such a cognitive journey is the visit of “Usum” school students to the Metsamor Archaeological Reserve-Museum.
Metsamor is one of the oldest settlements in Armenia, which, as early as the 5th–4th millennium BCE, served as an important cultural center. From 1965, excavations began here, culminating three years later, in 1968, in the establishment of a museum.
For the past five consecutive years, this visit has become thematic for sixth graders, providing them the opportunity to explore cultural layers dating from the 5th–2nd millennia BCE, ancient smelting sites, sanctuaries, and the layouts of residential complexes. Guided by the museum staff, who manage a collection of over 27,000 artifacts and exhibits, students examine clay figurines, jewelry, household items, and ritual objects discovered during the excavations, forming a vivid understanding of the daily life, beliefs, and art of their ancestors.
According to teachers participating in the “History and Culture” subject-method integration, such excursions are an essential educational process conducted outside the classroom. It is no coincidence that despite the growing number of excursion directions, this particular visit remains a regular and integral part of the thematic excursion program each year.
For the students, the visit to this reserve-museum is a kind of open lesson—blending archaeology, culture, and patriotism. They not only listen but also see what ancient Armenian civilization looked like, how their ancestors lived, created, and believed. Within the framework of the educational program, students also gain firsthand experience of the archaeologists’ work, feel the thrill of unearthing an artifact from the soil, encounter the disappointment of unexpected results, and learn perseverance.
At the conclusion of the latest visit, students shared their impressions, noting that Metsamor became not just a museum but a living classroom, where even the stones seem to speak.
To not think freely is to not think at all!
