Artsakh: Oral History Digital Database

Description

This three-year project aims to create a digital database of oral histories from displaced residents of Artsakh, preserving personal narratives that reflect survival strategies, daily life, and connections to the lost homeland—from the late Soviet period to the 2023 ethnic cleansing of Armenians. The database will serve both as a repository of intangible cultural heritage and a body of evidence reflecting individual perspectives on historical events.

We are documenting 180 stories from all seven regions of Artsakh and Stepanakert (20 stories per region, 40 from Stepanakert), with at least five interviews from each region conducted in the local dialect.

Statistics

200
Total Interviews
8
RegionsСovered

Historical Periods

  • The late 1980s–1990s Karabakh Movement and First Artsakh War
  • The blockade of Artsakh (December 2022 – September 2023)
  • The ethnic cleansing of 2023

Outcomes

  • A digital oral history database (developed on a specialized platform)
  • A trained team in digital humanities methods
  • Scholarly publications based on collected material

Details

Status:Active
Start Date:01 January 2024
End Date:31 December 2026
Type:Documentation
Duration:3 years