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.

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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.