World's Oldest-Ever Shoe Will Rest in Armenia's History Museum

A 5,500-year-old shoe recently found in Armenia during an excavation jointly conducted by Armenian, Irish and American archeologists will in 3-4 days be exhibited in Armenia's Museum of History, Director of the Institute of Archeology and Demography at the National Academy of Sciences Pavel Avetisyan told a press conference today.

Avetisyan at the same time mentioned that the complete examination of this artifact is still to be conducted in the future, adding that the group of scientists has reached an agreement with the Museum according to which the shoe will for research purposes be handed to scientists as necessary.

"We do not know yet how to preserve the shoe; it has already started getting dry," said he.

Avetisyan also said that according to the existing laws no single material, object other than scientific information can be taken out of the country without a special permission.

"That is the state's property. According to the law we must hand the materials to the state museum," said he, recalling that excavations in the cave in Areni, Vayots marz (province), started in 2007.

In his words the shoed are in a perfect condition partly due to the microclimate and the absence of metal remaining.