Areni-1 Cave
About This Museum
Tucked into the dramatic Vayots Dzor gorge, the Areni-1 Cave feels less like a museum and more like stepping directly into a time capsule. It’s here, within this dusty, sun-baked cavern, that archaeologists made some of the most stunning discoveries in the region. You can almost smell history in the air, especially standing near the world's oldest known winery, complete with its fermentation vats and drinking bowls from over 6,000 years ago. The cave also famously yielded the 'Areni-1 shoe', a perfectly preserved leather moccasin that someone lost in the Copper Age.
Collection Highlights
The centerpiece is undoubtedly the ancient winemaking facility with its clay karas pots and a grape press. Don't miss the remarkably intact 5,500-year-old leather shoe, along with an array of well-preserved artifacts like baskets and even human skulls showing early trepanation.
Visitor Information
It's a bit of an adventure to get to—you'll be navigating a metal walkway into the heart of the cave. Wear good shoes for the uneven ground and be prepared for it to feel authentically ancient; this isn't a glossy, climate-controlled exhibit.
Architecture & Building
This isn't a built structure but a vast, natural limestone cave system that has been meticulously excavated, with its original rock formations forming all the walls and ceilings.
Contact & Location
Address: Արենիի քարանձավ, Ճանապարհ դեպի Նորավանք, Արենի համայնք, Վայոց ձորի մարզ, 3604, Հայաստան
Phone: +374 55 514008
Website: Visit Website
