Karahöyük, also known as "Black Sheep", is a medieval abandoned settlement in Ararat Province, located about 32 km east of the village of Aygevank. It is situated on a plateau surrounded by gorges of the Vedi River and is one of the ancient settlements of the historic Urts province.
Monuments from the 9th to the 17th centuries have been preserved in the area. There are two large medieval cemeteries here, with numerous khachkars and decorated tombstones. Some of the khachkars have inscriptions and are dated to 1205, 1213, 1233, 1525 and 1551. Thanks to these, Karakoyun is considered one of the important centres of medieval khatchkars in Ararat Province.
Particularly valuable are the two basalt khachkars from 1551, carved by a master named Khachatour. One of them bears a 12-line inscription, while the other mentions the name Margar. According to researchers, Margar was probably involved in the reconstruction of the settlement.
Karagoyun also preserves the ruins of residential and agricultural buildings, as well as traces of a spring, a watermill and an oil mill. These provide an insight into the daily life and agricultural activities of the settlement.
The settlement was finally abandoned in the 20th century. Sources cite different dates for the abandonment: between 1925 and 1945, or between 1945 and 1952.
Conservation work on the monuments of Karakoyun continues. In 2018, five khachkars were restored and consolidated here as part of the 'New Life for Khachkars' initiative.
Today, Karakoyun is an important historical and cultural site where one can see the remains of a medieval settlement, khachkars, and old agricultural structures.
