Areni-1, or as many locals call it, the “Bird’s Cave,” is an archaeological cave site in Vayots Dzor, about a 2.5-hour drive from Yerevan. The cave lies along the Arpa River, at an altitude of 1,080 meters above sea level.
Excavations in 2007 in Areni-1 cave revealed the world’s oldest known winery, dating back to approximately 4100–4400 BC. The site includes a wine press, fermentation vats, storage jars, as well as grape seeds and skins. Chemical analysis confirmed the presence of malvidin, a compound that confirmed the theory of red wine production.
In 2008, archaeologists discovered a 5,500-year-old leather shoe, which turned out to be the oldest known leather footwear in the world. The shoe, European size 37, was found in a pit sealed with sheep dung, which contributed to its preservation.
Later, in 2009, a human skull was also discovered, dating back around 5,000 years. It was remarkably well preserved thanks to the cave’s cool and dry climate — and it contained the oldest preserved brain tissue ever found. Some of the large jars nearby are believed to have been used in ritual burial practices.
A fragment of a straw-woven skirt, dating to around 3900 BCE, was also discovered in the cave.
One of the most fascinating findings is that genetic analyses of human remains suggest that some of the people buried there had red hair and blue eyes.
Today, Areni-1 Cave is open to all visitors, and many of the artefacts found there are now kept in the History Museum of Armenia in Yerevan.
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