Archaeologists are pleased with the sensational results of excavation in Ararat Valley.
"Until now we dated the most ancient settlements in Armenia to the first half of VI millennium BC. Now we have discovered new layers, which demonstrate that these settlements are even older. To all appearances, they date back to VII millennium BC", Pavel Avetisyan, Director of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, said in his interview with ArmInfo.
Ancient layers have been discovered during the excavations of Aknashen and Masis Blur. Avetisyan thinks that it is a very important event, because until quite recently the available data showed that Ararat Valley was improper for settling in VII millennium BC.
"These are sensational results. We haven't thought before that would be able to register settlements dating back to an earlier period than the first half of VI millennium BC", he said. These data are of much significance not only in terms of studies of the ancient history of Armenian Highland, but also for correct understanding of the history of formation of cultures in West Asia.