. The shoe was found in near-perfect condition due to the cool and dry conditions in the cave and a thick layer of sheep dung which acted as a solid seal. Large storage containers were found in the same cave, many of which held well-preserved wheat, barley, and
apricots, as well as other edible plants. The shoe contained grass and the archaeologists were uncertain as to whether this was because the grass was used as insulation to keep the foot warm, or used to preserve the shape of the shoe while not being worn. Lead archaeologist Ron Pinhasi could not determine whether the shoe belonged to a man or a woman. While small, approximately a woman's United States and Canada size 7, European size 37, or United Kingdom size 6, he stated that "the shoe could well have fitted a man from that era". The shoes are very similar to the traditional shoes of the Balkans, still seen today in festivals, known as
Opanci (
Opanke). When the material was dated by the two radiocarbon laboratories in
Oxford and
California, it was established that the shoe dates back to 3,500 BC. This date is some two hundred years older than the date given for the leather shoe found on
Ötzi the Iceman. After having been treated for preservation, the Areni-1 shoe is on display at the
History Museum of Armenia,
Yerevan. ==See also==