An Old Mechanism of the 17th Century Oil Mill Discovered in Tatev
Recently, during refining works at the Tatev oil mill (Dzit-han), the medieval oil press mechanism was discovered in a well-preserved condition, including specially gouged stones and clay jugs for oil extraction and collection.
The restoration of the oil mill in Tatev is implemented by the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia in the scope of its Tatev Revival Project, with the financial support of ARGA Fund.
This 17th century workshop not only is important for its historical value. As a result of the restoration work, it will become an experiential tourism product that will provide visitors an insight on the cultural and culinary heritage of the Tatev region.
The work on the Dzit-han rehabilitation is carried out in three phases including design and restoration, research and development, and product development and presentation.
For the assessment and restoration works, the Foundation has involved a group of professionals - a Tatev Revival Project Restoration Steering Committee, composed of local and international experts in the fields of restoration, architecture, and culture.
As scheduled, the oil mill restoration will complete by October of this year, with museum-style displays ready to provide historical information about the whole process of oil extraction in Tatev. The second round will involve work on the rehabilitation of the old oil production mechanism that is planned to be completed by spring 2011.