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Lchashen Wagon - The Oldest Known Wagon In The World

Thanks to globalization, the world is getting smaller and we can now travel to sites and places that were once difficult to see. Besides a long history and rich culture, there are many extraordinary sites and places to be visited amidst the beautiful scenery in a country which stands at the crossroads of Asia and Europe. This country is Armenia and these days it is very easy to visit.

One of the most remarkable places in Armenia is the archaeological site known as Lchashen Settlement - one of the exceptional monuments of the Bronze Age. The story of the discovery of this settlement is as amazing as the site itself. For centuries it was sunk beneath Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the Caucasus, and one of the highest Alpine lakes in Eurasia.

During the Soviet-era, the lake was drained to help to irrigate the vast Ararat plain, which gradually led to the level of the lake dropping. In the 1950s the retreating waters allowed for the discovery of an ancient necropolis which contained some 800 tombs.

Archaeological investigations have revealed that these were probably tombs of the elite as bulls and horses were buried with those interred in the necropolis. A large number of valuables were also recovered and many of the graves had human skeletons that were seated in carts or chariots which were adorned with designs and inscriptions. These carts may have been intended to allow the dead to travel to an underworld or afterlife.

These types of burials have been found all the way from Wales to the borders of China, but those found at Lchashen Settlement are considered to be among the best found anywhere.

No one has established when the settlement was abandoned nor why it was lost to history for millennia...

This incredibly well preserved 4,000 year old wagon made of just oakwood, unearthed in the Lchashen village near Lake Sevan - is the oldest known wagon in the world, and it is currently on display in the History Museum of Armenia in Yerevan.

This wagon was built by Lchashen-Metsamor Culture (aka Etiuni). It’s generally believed they were Indo-European, and they very likely spoke proto-Armenian.

There are 12 such wagons in total dating from 2000 BC have been found in excellent condition in Lchashen.

In his book the “Timeline of the Development of the Horse”, Beverley Davis writes: “Primitive wagons dating from this time (2000 BC) have been found in excellent condition in Armenia. These are the oldest known wagons in the world.” The Lchashen wagons were also included in the Stuart Piggott’s book “The Earliest Wheeled Transport: From the Atlantic Coast to the Caspian Sea”.

The oldest winery, oldest leather shoe, oldest straw skirt, oldest human brain, and oldest wagon - they were all found in Armenia. If you look at the Biblical maps, Armenia is where the Garden of Eden was, and the Eden is where Adam and Eve were created, hence, it is the birthplace of humanity. In essence, Armenia is where humanity was born and then reborn...

If you are interested in visiting this historic necropolis, contact Phoenix Tour today - and we will arrange for you an easy trip to see Lchashen Settlement, that will fit perfectly within your budget and given timeline.

Are you planning to visit the History Museum of Armenia? Phoenix Tour will gladly reserve your preferred language guided tour. With that reservation, you can skip the line at the ticket office and avoid the guide availability issue. Our expert guide will provide you with detailed explanations about all the major exhibits on display, allowing you to make the most of your visit.

For more information, please contact us at info@phoenixtour.am

Lchashen Wagon
Lchashen Wagon
Lchashen Wagon
Lchashen Wagon