Yerevan's main historical collection occupies the pink-tufa block on the north side of Republic Square, sharing the building with the National Gallery. The displays cover Armenia from prehistory through the Urartian kingdom, the Hellenistic and Christian eras, medieval kingdoms, and the modern Republic.
The standout exhibits are the Bronze Age finds from Lchashen and the wooden chariots and ceremonial wagons preserved by the dry climate of Lake Sevan — among the oldest surviving wheeled vehicles in the world. The 5,500-year-old leather shoe from the Areni-1 cave, recovered in 2008, is here too. Labels are in Armenian and English; allow at least two hours.