Areni-1 cave
Արենի-1 քարանձավ | |
 Panorama of the site along the Arpa River | |
  Shown within Armenia | |
| Location | Vayots Dzor Province, Armenia |
|---|---|
| Region | Lesser Caucasus |
| Coordinates | 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
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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
Notes
- ^ a b "Archaeology of Food: An Encyclopedia". Google Books. 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.