In Armenian legends modern Armenia is an important place where many patriarchs lived.

 In Armenian legends modern Armenia is an important place where many patriarchs lived. Starting from Aramaneak the son of Hayk many generations live and rule in Araratian plain and its neighborhood. Aramayis, Shara, Amasya, Gelam, Harma, Sisak and others left their names in toponyms. Its also in Araratian plain that the legendary (which was also a real city) capital Armavir was located. This fact is an argument for the Etiuni theory which was also located in what is now Republic of Armenia.

However Hayk himself which represents the epomynous patriarch of Hay people (Armenians) was mostly acting near the lake Van. His main domain was in Hark in Taron, which was west of lake Van. He battled Bel in Hayoc' dzor which was in south east of lake Van. At last two settlements associated with him Haykashen and Haykaberd are also situated near lake Van. The latter Haykaberd is today known as Cavushtepe from where we have few ancient DNA.

Assuming that legendary memory is not an arbitrary construct, this could mean that regions around lake Van were as important for the ethnogenesis of Armenians as the modern Armenia.

We have already noticed this from the available ancient DNA. However the available data is not sufficient to make definitive verdicts. In any case this do not change the broad picture of Armenian origins derived from Middle Bronze Age migrations. But most probably some important details will emerge with new data from Lake Van region.