Argisztihinili, Urartian archaeological site in Armavir Province, Armenia.

Argishtikhinili is a ruined Urartian city in Armavir Province, laid out as an elongated rectangle about 5 by 2 km between the villages of Nor-Armavir and Armavir. Two stone citadels stood at its western and eastern ends, and the western fortress was ringed by three lines of walls 3.5 m thick with towers and buttresses.

Argishti I founded the city in 776 BC, his 11th regnal year, as an administrative centre in the Ararat plain rather than a fortress. It existed through the 8th–6th centuries BC. In the early Orontid period most of it lay in ruins, and life resumed only in its eastern part when Armavir was founded there in the 4th century BC.

The ruins reveal storage buildings, temples, and palace structures that speak to Urartian craftsmanship and engineering. Walking through the site, you can see how these structures reflected the sophistication of ancient life here.

The site is located between two villages and is accessible on foot, though conditions vary with the seasons. Wear sturdy shoes and visit during daylight hours to see the ruins clearly.

An irrigation system was built here that shaped agriculture across the region for centuries. The channels and water management features show a surprisingly advanced approach to controlling water in ancient times.