Archaeologists have discovered what is believed to be the world's oldest wine press, in a cave system in the south of Armenia.

In addition to a 6,000-year-old stone press, scientists unearthed grape seeds, dried vines and fermentation jars at the Little Caucasus Mountains site.

Carbon dating on one vine suggested that it was grown in 4,000 BC, with the shallow stone basin thought to have served as a ceremonial installation in what is believed to be a ritual graveyard within the cave complex.

Further tests determined that the grape seeds were vitis vinifera, a type which is still used to make wine in the modern day, including famous Pinot Noirs such as Domaine de la Romanee Conti.

Co-director of the excavation Gregory Areshian, of the University of California, said: "This was a relatively small installation related to the ritual inside the cave. For daily consumption they would have had much larger wine presses in the regular settlement."

The find comes less than a year after divers discovered what is believed to be the world's oldest Champagne, on a shipwreck off the Baltic coast.

Thirty bottles were found 50 metres below the surface and are thought to have been on the sea bed for nearly two centuries.