The DNA of a 7,000 Years Old Tooth Found in Artsakh Fully Matches the Genome of Modern Armenians

Under the lead of anthropologist and geneticist Levon Yepiskoposyan, archaeologists from the UK, US, Denmark, and Armenia examined the caves near the Azokh village in the Republic of Artsakh. Their fruitful research resulted in the discovery of unique ancient artifacts, including a 7,000 years old human tooth.

Thanks to the interior condition features of the cave, the tooth has been preserved exceptionally well, which allowed the scientists to analyze its DNA at the University of Copenhagen. The analysis demonstrated that the DNA of the tooth is completely similar to the genome of modern Armenians.

The archaeologists discovered the tooth after inspecting over 10 caves in Artsakh. “Here, we found a tooth of a human who lived in the territory of Artsakh about 7,000 years ago. The DNA can be maintained for a very long time. Thanks to it, we established that the genome of the tooth matches the DNA of modern Armenians”, said Yepiskoposyan.

The Azokh cave complex is a unique site with organic traces and remains from various historical periods. Excavations in Azokh commenced in 2002. During its activity, the archaeologists unearthed a vast quantity of bones and remains of animals living in these giant caves. Additionally, the researchers found evidence of three different types of Hominoidea, who once dwelled here.