Categories: Archeology

8000-Year Old Settlement Excavated at Aknashen

Armenian archaeologists unearthed an ancient, 8000-year old settlement near the Aknashen city in the Ararat Valley. It dates back at the beginning of the human civilization.

“Prior to this period, everything known mostly relates to cave shelters and temporary dwellings. But here, we deal with a sedentary settlement, which is remarkable for its first attempts of construction and ceramic production,” said Ruben Badalyan, the head of the expedition.

In Aknashen, the archaeologists found a plethora of artifacts. Among poor-condition human remains, they unearthed jewelry, ceramics, clothes, and tools, which provided the researchers with invaluable data on the lifestyle of the people, who have probably been the first to discover civilization.

“It could be concluded that the humans living in that territory had some sense of aesthetic beauty. They adorned themselves, their clothes, and tools. And there is evidence that they used make-up,” said Badalyan.

During the past years, several expeditions have already presented the archaeologists with monuments dating at the 7th and 6th millennium BC.

Vigen Avetisyan

Recent Posts

The Armenian Bronze Chariot: A Ritual Vehicle of the 14th Century BC

Among the most evocative artifacts to survive from the Armenian Highland's Late Bronze Age is…

22 hours ago

Clowns of War: The Strange Battlefield Legacy of Medieval Armenian Theater

Long before "clown" became a synonym for children's birthday parties, the word described a hardened…

4 days ago

Dura-Europos and Ancient Armenia: A Crossroads of Priests, Inscriptions, and the Cult of Mithra

Introduction The fresco reproduced above — three white-robed priests, one wearing a tall conical hat,…

1 week ago

From Lake Van to Yerevan: The Bronze Helmet of Urartu, the First Armenia

The crested bronze helmet on the left of this comparison was not made by a…

2 weeks ago

A Tower Crowned by a Lion-Rider: Reading a Bronze Age Cult Vessel Through the Lens of the Armenian Highlands

A small, weathered piece of fired clay — barely 31 centimeters tall — sits today…

3 weeks ago

A Hand Reaching Through Three Millennia: The Bronze Pendant from Yeghvard

Pendant (Amulet) in the Shape of a Human Hand | 7th–6th centuries BC | Yeghvard…

4 weeks ago