Archeologists discover ancient fortune-telling shrines in Armenia

Three shrines, each thousands of years old, have been discovered in an Armenian hilltop fortress, according to a new article published in the American Journal of Archaeology.

The researchers involved say local rulers likely used the shrines for divination practices, as a number of artifacts such as clay idols and incense burners were found in each location. The rulers likely burned mind-altering substances and drank wine in order to promote their future-telling capabilities, the archeologists said.

"I would think that (the shrines within the fortress at Gegharot were) probably a cult center largely specializing in servicing the emerging rulers from the ruling class," Adam Smith, a professor at Cornell University and the article's lead author, told Live Science.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Unfortunately for the future-telling rulers, after a century of use, the fortress was wiped out and subsequently abandoned due to regional conflicts, Smith said.