Armenian archaeologists are due to make a sensational discovery that will up-end the concept of ancient humans' migration out off the African continent that is considered to be the cradle of the humankind.
In 2007, an Armenian-American archaeological expedition launched excavations in the Nor Geghi community in the Hrazdan Gorge. "The excavation results may become a global sensation," says Pavel Avetikyan, Director of the Archaeology and Ethnography Institute at the Armenian National Academy of Science. However, he did not unveil "the secret of the research" ahead of time.
A member of the expedition Boris Gasparyan told ArmInfo the archaeological excavation results will up-end the idea of the ancient humans' migration and the early stages of settlement of the Armenian highland. It is widely accepted that settlement of the Armenian highland is directly connected with the Ancient Africa and that all the human species came from Ancient Africa.
"Meanwhile, the significant site in Nor Geghi community raises issues that run contrary to our knowledge about migration of early humans," Gasparyan said. The materials of the expedition probably date back to the late pre-historic man Homo Erectus.
The results of the laboratory analyses will be received from abroad shortly and it will be possible to define the exact date of the materials. The Science Magazine will publish an article telling about the excavations in Nor Geghi on 26 September. In addition, press conferences will be simultaneously organized in Armenia and USA to introduce the sensational discovery