The village Lev is situated on the left slope of the gorge, in the upper alpine zone (altitude of 1730-1840 m above the sea.) of the river Lev. In the beginning of the XXcent., this historical settlement was occupied by the shepherds. The new quarter of the village was built on the right slope of the gorge during 1960-80.
Although Lev was an Armenian village existing since at least the Middle Ages, it is recorded for the first time only in 1763, in the inventory of Dadi Vank estates. This village was still considered to be a monastery estate as late as in 1913, probably up to the establishment of the Soviet rule.
Several simple crosses were carved on the western side of a rock bursting out in the centre of the village; the other finely carved khachkar was lying 1.6 km east of the village, beneath an isolated rock. It was unbroken and measured 180x93x20 cm. |
 |
Lev. Khachkar (XII c.) found in the vicinity of the village |
