| Areni-1 cave | |
| Region: | South Caucasus, Armenian Highlands |
| Period: | Chalcolithic, Bronze Age |
| Dates: | ca. 4,300 — 3,500 B.C.E. |
| Majorsites: | Areni |
| Areni-1 cave | |
| Native Name: | Արենի-1 քարանձավ |
| Map Type: | Armenia |
| Map Size: | 240 |
| Relief: | yes |
| Coordinates: | 39.7314°N 45.2036°W |
| Location: | Vayots Dzor Province, Armenia |
| Region: | Armenian Highlands |
| Length: | 40m (130feet) |
| Material: | Karst |
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.
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 September 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] Recent archaeological investigations demonstrate that
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.