Levon Melikset-Bek, a specialist in Caucasian Studies, is known to the scientific community as a medievalist and expert in Source studies. As an archaeologist, he studied megalithic monuments, in particular dragon stones. L. Melikset-Bek showed a special interest in archaeology during his studies at Odessa University. After his studies, he was a member of several archaeological societies holding senior positions. In 1923–1930, Melikset-Bek carried out energetic archaeological activity in different parts of Georgia (Kakheti, Kavturi, South Ossetia, Trialeti, Javakheti) studying medieval monuments. However, Melikset-Bek is engaged in real archaeology not in the field of medieval, but prehistoric archaeology: in particular, the author's object of research is megalithic monuments partly in Ossetia, but mainly in Javakheti and Trialeti.

KeywordsLevon Melikset-Bek archaeology Javakheti Trialeti megalithic culture dragon stones researches of 1920s.

From a political, economic and cultural point of view, the 1930s were a turning point in the history of the Soviet Armenia: socialist construction marked an unprecedented rise, which caused new problems in the preservation of ancient monuments and architectural constructions of cultural value. The soviet authorities showed emphasized intolerance, first, to the spiritual institutions; many churches of cultural value were demolished or turned into collective farm warehouses, hayfields, etc.

KeywordsAshkharbek Kalantar Soviet Armenia socialist construction committee for preservation of antiquities protection of monuments research confrontation coverage.