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.

The bearers of the Armenian and Turkic epic traditions in the Armenian Highlands were in constant contact, as a result of which allogeneic (Turkic) personages in the Armenian epic “Sasna Tsrer” (“Daredevils of Sassoun”) and Armenian personages, in particular, in the epic “Kerogli” are revealed. Obviously, there was a process of bilateral mutual enrichment and interpenetration of some epic elements. The analysis of the characters of Zinjil Ghiran in some versions of “Sasna Tsrer” and Zincirkıran in the epic “Keroglu” brings to light their genealogical roots.

The fact of the former presence of Scythian tribes in the east of the Armenian Highland has long attracted the attention of researchers. In all likelihood, the Gandzak plain in the Utik province of Greater Armenia, which the Armenians called Shakashen, was one of the places of concentration of Scythian tribes that penetrated into Transcaucasia. A century ago, it was believed, that some burial mounds in the Artsakh province, bordering this region, were built by the Scythians.

Since the Paleolithic, all the rituals comprising funerary rite were aimed at a single purpose – overcoming the death. The head of deceased was viewed as a valid replacement of the whole being. It was perceived as a container, where the vital energy was concentrated. Therefore, the head needed protection, which was provided by placing near the head ritual items made of flint, obsidian or metal, modelling the head in plaster, placing the head in a clay vessel or on a stone, etc.

In the letter of 1921, addressed to the communists of the Caucasus, the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR, Vladimir Lenin formulated an idea of importance of irrigation, which became a key starting point for the social and economic development of the region. The humanitarian mission of the Norwegian polar explorer and public figure Fridtjof Nansen in Armenia, directly related to irrigation projects, proved the relevance of Lenin's ideas at the international level. During the same period, archaeological research on ancient irrigation systems and related monuments called "vishap" were intensified resulting in a scientific discourse according to which irrigation in ancient times conditioned the emergence of statehood.