A joint research mission in the Syunik Province of Armenia has identified a rare Bronze Age industrial settlement dedicated to gold extraction. Dating to approximately 2000 BCE, the site contains massive stone troughs and basalt grinding stones used to pulverize quartz for gold recovery. This finding confirms the region's historical role as a primary source of precious metals for the ancient Near East, potentially linking Armenian mines to the wealth of Mesopotamian dynasties.
The excavation team also discovered a residential quarter for the miners, featuring hearths and evidence of a meat-heavy diet, suggesting that the workers were well-provisioned specialists. Chemical analysis of the residual dust in the grinding basins shows a high purity of gold, indicating advanced knowledge of ore selection. This site is now considered one of the most complete examples of early metallurgy in the Caucasus mountains, offering a window into the logistics of ancient resource management.