5,000-year-old human shelter — with bones and blades — discovered in Armenia. See it

Researchers in Armenia recently uncovered a human shelter filled with artifacts that dates back thousands of years.

The ancient dwelling was discovered during the archaeological exploration of a rock shelter in the Yeghegis Valley in central Armenia.

The shelter — found in 2020 — featured a collapsed roof and wall-like structure, which appeared to have ancient origins, according to a study published on Feb. 1 in the journal Antiquity.

In 2022, a 6-foot-deep trench was dug next to the shelter entrance, revealing several distinct layers littered with signs of human activity.

Approximately 8,000 animal bone shards were found at the site, most of which belonged to goats and sheep, while others belonged to pigs, deer and cattle. An even smaller portion were traced to canines and bears.

The bone shards from four separate layers were subjected to radiocarbon dating — the oldest of which dated back over 5,300 years.

Through this technique, researchers estimated the site was occupied by humans for at least 300 years.

About 2,000 other artifacts were also found, including pieces of copper, obsidian blades, beads and pottery.

“Preliminary results from the Yeghegis rockshelter underscore the potential of this site to provide important insights into human lifeways during the Chalcolithic,” also known as the Copper Age, researchers said.

Additional excavations are planned to further explore the site to shed light on ancient human activity in the region.

This story was originally published February 5, 2024 at 5:44 PM with the headline "5,000-year-old human shelter — with bones and blades — discovered in Armenia. See it."