Some Remarks on the Urartian Toponym Dara(ni) and Its Possible Identification with the Site of Solak-1/Varsak in Kotayk Region, Armenia

The aim of this paper is to reconsider some aspects of archaeology and historical geography related to the Urartian presence in the territory of modern-day Armenia in the light of the recent discovery of the important Iron Age site of Solak-1/Varsak. In particular, the possibility is put forward in this text that the ancient city of Dara(ni), mentioned in the Elar inscription made by Argisti i (ctu a 8-8), was not the small fortress of Elar, as was proposed before, but the great Iron Age site of Solak-1/Varsak.