Areni-1 Cave

The Areni-1 cave complex is an ancient multicomponent site, and late Chalcolithic/Early Bronze Age ritual site and settlement, located near the Areni village in southern Armenia along the Arpa River [1]. In 2008, Armenian PhD student and archeologist Diana Zardaryan of the country's Institute of Archaeology discovered the earliest known shoe in the world at the site [1]. In January 2011, the earliest known winery in the world was uncovered in the cave [1]. Later, in September 2011, the discovery of a straw skirt dating to 3,900 years BCE was reported [1]. In 2009, the oldest humanoid brain was discovered in the cave [1]. 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 [1].