Areni-1 Cave Complex

Vayots Dzor Province is famous for its caves. One of the most famous caves, Areni-1, is situated near the wine capital of Armenia – the village of Areni. This place was inhabited from time immemorial, which is evidenced by the artifacts excavated in Areni-1 cave complex also known as Birds’ Cave. Areni-1 is a complex of caves connected by narrow passages. In 2010, the oldest known leather shoe was found here (almost 5500 years old), and in 2011, the world’s oldest known winery (4th millennium BC) was announced to have been discovered here. Still, this unique archeological site has not been fully explored yet and can become a source of new discoveries.