The Institute of Humanities Research

The Intercultural Center for the Study of Religion, through periodic publications and articles, identifies studies, analyzes, and evaluates topics related to the anthropology of religion, psychology of religion, phenomenology of religion, sociology of religion, and the history of religions, from both academic and practical perspectives.
The center creates a platform for interdisciplinary religious studies to facilitate diverse types of research. It promotes the execution and public dissemination of interdisciplinary research in religion, supports existing researchers in publishing and sharing their work, and offers professional assistance to various public structures and institutions for the acquisition and dissemination of expert knowledge in religious studies.
From a religious studies standpoint, it identifies current issues in the field, local and regional threats, and the tools and mechanisms to address them. Ultimately, it fosters a culture of interdisciplinary research in religious studies, laying the foundation for new investigations and ideas.

In recent decades, archaeological research in Armenia based on modern methods has played a transformative role in reconstructing the country’s ancient history.
Thanks to a significantly enriched source base, both qualitatively and quantitatively, it has become possible to reinterpret many aspects of the ancient history of the Armenian people.
Within this context, the laboratory studies Armenia’s archaeological monuments and paleo-landscapes, including fieldwork, laboratory processing of materials, measurement, and publication.
The main directions of the laboratory's activities are:

• Settlement of the territory of Armenia and its phases
• Emergence and spread of early agricultural culture in Armenia
• Emergence and evolution of megalithic and monumental structures in Armenia
• Development of ancient and medieval civilizational units in Armenia
• Monitoring and dissemination of museum materials

The primary aim of the Laboratory for Ethnographic and Anthropological Research is the study of both traditional ethnographic and contemporary anthropological issues.
On one hand, research on traditional Armenian culture remains relevant and important, especially with the application of modern theoretical and methodological approaches. On the other hand, issues such as identity, developments caused by socio-cultural transformations, and anthropological studies of war and ethnic conflicts have gained heightened importance.
The anthropological examination of these and other specific problems is particularly vital today, as the Republic of Armenia and Armenian society face serious challenges that require complex approaches and solutions.
This scope of ethnographic and anthropological problems defines the laboratory's primary research questions. The outcomes of these studies will be both academic and applied, integrated into educational curricula and contributing to the development of students' research skills and competencies.

The British Literature and Cultural Studies Group was founded in 2017. Its academic activity takes place within the framework of the Base Funding Program for Scientific and Scientific-Technical Activities.
The program aims to conduct comprehensive research on British literature and culture, focusing on the concept of national identity as reflected in British identity and examining elements shaped by national culture.
Broadly, the program seeks to foster greater scholarly interest in the regional languages, cultures, and literature of the United Kingdom and to introduce students of the Department of English Philology at the Faculty of European Languages and Communication to British culture and literature—while simultaneously expanding the department’s research program.
The initial focus of the program is Scottish culture as a unique and dynamically evolving area of European culture.
The results of the research are published in both local and internationally recognized journals and presented at international conferences.

The Laboratory of the Philosophy and Theory of History is a research center focused on the concept of history, its rethinking and rewriting, and the horizons of applying historical methods.
In the coming years, the laboratory will study Armenian models of modernization, with the goal of uncovering new layers within the history of the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly in Armenian history.
The laboratory is headed by Professor Kalle Pihlainen of the University of Turku (Finland), with YSU Associate Professor Davit Mosinyan serving as co-director.
The laboratory contributes to the development of contemporary academic discourse by offering a platform for innovative thinking and research into new historical methodologies.

Comprehensive development of Armenian Studies as a priority field and its integration into the international academic environment is impossible without regional research, including Kartvelian (Georgian) studies.
In this context, YSU’s Center for Kartvelian Studies holds a significant and unique mission.
The importance and necessity of the center’s educational and research activities stem from the centuries-old historical, cultural, and ethno-political ties and interactions between Armenia and Georgia, as well as the reevaluation of this shared heritage.
Preserving the cultural heritage of the multiethnic Caucasus region is an issue of current relevance.
This is especially important in the context of regional relations and security challenges, where analyzing and addressing these issues through cultural heritage helps develop mutually supportive strategies for facing shared challenges.

The aim of the laboratory is to provide a comprehensive description of the Armenian lexicon, categorized into semantic fields such as the physical world (landscape, animals, plants, weather, colors, etc.) and culture (crafts, beliefs, etc.) within the context of the Indo-European homeland, the Near East, and the Armenian Highlands across all stages of the Armenian language—from Proto-Indo-European roots (circa 4th millennium BCE) to modern dialects.
After the Indo-European breakup, speakers of Proto-Armenian borrowed numerous substratum words from local non-Indo-European languages.
These prehistoric stages were followed by historical periods (both ancient and modern), during which Armenian interacted with Caucasian, Anatolian, Hurro-Urartian, Semitic, Iranian, and other languages.
The laboratory studies Armenian vocabulary in the context of the multilayered interaction between native Armenian and borrowed lexical groups.
Semantic field studies will be presented in charts with extensive data and color-coded visualizations.
The research findings will be published as academic articles and monographs.