Areni-1 cave
Արենի-1 քարանձավ | |
 Panorama of the site along the Arpa River | |
  Shown within Armenia | |
| Location | Vayots Dzor Province, Armenia |
|---|---|
| Region | Armenian Highlands |
| Coordinates | 39°43′53″N 45°12′13″E / 39.73139°N 45.20361°ECoordinates: 39°43′53″N 45°12′13″E / 39.73139°N 45.20361°E |
| Length | 40 m (130 ft)[1] |
| History | |
| Material | Karst |
| Periods | Chalcolithic, Bronze Age |
| History of Armenia |
|---|
 |
| Timeline • Origins • Etymology |
The Areni-1 cave complex (Armenian: Արենիի քարանձավ) is a multicomponent site,[1] and late Chalcolithic/Early Bronze Age ritual site and settlement,[2] located near the Areni village in southern Armenia along the Arpa River.
Findings[]
In 2008, Armenian PhD student and archeologist Diana Zardaryan of the country’s Institute of Archaeology discovered the earliest known shoe at the site.[3] In January 2011, the earliest known winery in the world was uncovered in the cave.[4] Later, in 2011, the discovery of a straw skirt dating to 3,900 years BCE was reported.[5] In 2009, the oldest humanoid brain was discovered in the cave.[6]
Genetics[]
Three individuals who lived in the Chalcolithic era (c. 5700–6250 years BP), found in the Areni-1 ("Bird's Eye") cave were identified as belonging to haplogroup L1a. One individual's genome indicated that he had red hair and blue eyes.
Gallery[]
Chalcolithic leather shoe from Areni-1 cave
Entrance to the cave
Pathway to the entrance
View from the cave
The site in 2012, swallow nests on the ceiling of the entrance.
Swallow nests 2019
See also[]
- Areni-1 shoe
- Areni-1 winery
Notes[]
- ^ a b Metheny, Karen Bescherer; Beaudry, Mary C. (7 August 2015). Archaeology of Food: An Encyclopedia. ISBN 9780759123663. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ "Areni-1 Cave, Armenia: A Chalcolithic–Early Bronze Age settlement and ritual site in the southern Caucasus". Research Gate. March 1, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ "World's oldest leather shoe found in Armenian cave". Reuters. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- ^ Owen, James. "Earliest Known Winery Found in Armenian Cave." National Geographic. January 10, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- ^ "5,900-year-old women's skirt discovered in Armenian cave". News Armenia. September 13, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
- ^ Bower, Bruce (12 January 2009). "Armenian cave yields ancient human brain". ScienceNews.
- Archaeological sites in Armenia
- Geography of Vayots Dzor Province
- Caves of Armenia
- Areni
- Kura-Araxes culture