Found a 5,500-year old sandal too
The 5,500-year old shoe found in the Areni 1 cave in Vayots Dzor province has been recognized as the most amazing discovery of the year.
The American "Parade" magazine has summed up the year's discoveries in different spheres and the most ancient leather shoe found in Armenia is in that list.
The world's oldest shoe was found by PhD student at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, archeologist Diana Zardaryan on September 16, 2008. Zardaryan told "A1+" that he is very pleased to know that the shoe has been acknowledged as one of the best discoveries.
The oldest leather shoe is currently kept at Armenia's Museum of History. After discovering the shoe, archaeologists said it had to be immediately conserved in order not to dry and vanish.
Museum director Anelka Grigoryan assured that the shoe is in good condition and is kept under necessary conditions.
"Everything is in order and there is no threat," said the director, adding that the museum still hasn't received any offer to showcase the shoe at international exhibitions.
The discovery drew the attention of many foreign archaeologists and they began to work with their Armenian partners at the Areni 1 cave this summer. The excavations led to the discovery of items such as a part of the body of a mummified goat.
"We have other new items as well, but we can't say anything before analyses and dating," said Diana Zardaryan.
Zardaryan also said the museum had also found a part of a leather sandal along with the shoe.
The sandal has undergone experiments as well and based on the results, the leather sandal found in Armenia traces back to 5,500 years.
"There have simply been other older sandals and that is why there weren't too many rumors about this," said the archaeologist.
