The laboratories that examined the ancient shoe found in the Areni cave have to provide the results for the shoe to be sent to conservation. The results are needed for the finding to undergo high-quality conservation, Director of the Museum of Armenian History Anelka Grigoryan told NEWS.am.

Before the finding is sent for restoration, written recommendations from the laboratories of the universities of California and Oxford, which examined the shoe, need to be sent to experts. “I have sent letters to the universities and asked them to send the examination results as soon as possible, but I cannot say when we will receive answers,” Grigoryan said. The state of the 5,500-year-old finding does not arouse concern, as it is “in the same state as we received it. Our experts in leather assured us the shoe is free from any damage.”

As for the country the shoe will be sent for conservation, Ms. Grigoryan said that good restoration centers are operating in Ukraine, Germany and France, though no specific decision has yet been made.

The 5,500-year-old shoe was found in September 2008. A number of research centers confirmed the age of the finding as a result of independent research.