The artifacts and excavation trenches at Areni-1 Cave Complex (Photo by Ara and Sossi Madzounian, My Armenia Program, Smithsonian Institution and USAID)
Areni-1 Cave Complex
Archaeologists first discovered the Areni-1 Cave Complex in 2004 and began to excavate it in the late 2000s. Archaeologists unearthed the world’s oldest leather shoe (5,500 years old) at the cave and also found the oldest unearthed wine production center. A combination of fermentation vats, a winepress and chemical traces of grape seeds in ceramic storage jars suggest that people were producing wine in the
cave at least as early as 6,000 years ago. At the cave, archaeologists also uncovered the earliest known ceramic types of the Kura Araxes archaeological culture. These people inhabited the South Caucasus from about the 4th millennium BCE to the later half of the 3rd millennium BCE. The cave contains layers of human occupation. Partially exposed archaeological trenches reveal artifacts from several groups of occupants that physically overlay artifacts from proceeding years of civilization. This deep layering of finds suggests the importance of this site throughout several millennia.
Historical Attractions
Note
Due to the fragile nature of this cave and plans for future excavations, this site is not usually open to the public. However, the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, administered through the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, has helped sponsor the construction of future viewing platforms for easy and low-disturbance access. Plans to digitally scan the cave and render it in 3D projections will also give visitors a chance to virtually access the exciting twist, turns and surprises of this cave.