Fieldwork

Gvardjilas Cave Field School

This listing expired on January 1, 1970. Please contact projects@pasttopresent.org for any updated information.

Location: chiatura

Season: August 17, 2025 to September 14, 2025

Session Dates: Gvardjilas Period 1: Sunday 17th August to Sunday 24th August 2025
Gvardjilas Period 2: Sunday 24th August to Sunday 31st August 2025
Gvardjilas Period 3: Sunday 31st August to Sunday 7th September 2025
Gvardjilas Period 4: Sunday 7th September to Sunday 14th September 2025

Gvardjilas Phase 1: Sunday 17th August to Sunday 31st August 2025
Gvardjilas Phase 2: Sunday 31st August to Sunday 14th September 2025

Gvardjilas All: Sunday 17th August to Sunday 14th September 2025

Application Deadline: August 10, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://pasttopresent.org/gvardjilas-cave-field-school/?v=79cba1185463

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Past to Present Archaeology, Historic World Georgia, Ilia State University

Project Director:
Dr. Niko Tushabramishvili

Project Description:

Gvardjilas Cave, located in the Imereti region of Georgia, is one of the most significant Palaeolithic sites in the Caucasus, offering invaluable insights into the Late Upper Palaeolithic period, approximately 19,700 to 14,500 years ago. This cave holds rich, stratified deposits with thousands of artefacts that reflect early human adaptation and cultural practices during a time of environmental change. Carved into a limestone landscape, Gvardjilas Cave preserves the material evidence of prehistoric life, including distinctive lithic tools and faunal remains, and provides an exceptional glimpse into the lives of early humans in the Caucasus.

In collaboration with Historic World Georgia and Ilia State University, Past to Present Archaeology is launching a field school at Gvardjilas Cave to further explore its undisturbed layers. With large portions of the site still unexplored, this project seeks to uncover deeper deposits and new artefacts, potentially revealing how early humans adapted to the late Pleistocene environment. Field school participants will have the rare opportunity to work at a site of such archaeological importance, gaining hands-on experience in excavation and contributing to an active research project.

 

Hands-On Archaeological Training at Gvardjilas Cave

Under the guidance of archaeologists from Past to Present Archaeology and Historic World Georgia, you’ll gain hands-on experience in a range of essential archaeological techniques, specifically tailored to the unique challenges of cave excavation. Your training will include:

 

  • Single-Context Excavation: Receive guided training in precise excavation techniques, with support throughout as you learn to document complex cave stratigraphy accurately.
  • Maintaining Accurate Site Records: Develop skills in record-keeping, with guidance to ensure each discovery is properly documented.
  • Archaeological Site Photography: Learn basic photography techniques for capturing excavation details, with hands-on support from our experienced team.
  • Artefact Retrieval and Cataloguing: Gain practical experience in carefully retrieving and cataloguing artefacts, under the supervision of our archaeologists.
  • 3D Survey of Artefacts: Participate in 3D surveying, creating digital records that aid in analysis and preservation, with step-by-step instruction.
  • Lithic Identification and Typological Analysis: Begin learning to identify and classify stone tools, an essential skill for studying early tool-making, with expert guidance.
  • Drawing Archaeological Plans and Sections: Receive instruction on producing scaled drawings, essential for interpreting cave sites.
  • Archaeological Interpretation and Sequencing: Work alongside our team to interpret artefacts and layers, developing a deeper understanding of the site’s history.

This is a rare opportunity to learn specialised skills within the fascinating environment of an ancient cave, adding depth to your archaeological expertise.

Period(s) of Occupation: Gvardjilas Cave preserves a stratified record of human occupation spanning approximately 19,700 to 14,500 years ago, during the Late Upper Palaeolithic. Previous excavations have revealed a wealth of lithic artefacts, including backed blades and geometric microliths, showcasing advanced tool-making techniques that helped early humans survive in a challenging environment. Unlike other Palaeolithic sites in the Caucasus, Gvardjilas Cave offers a unique and continuous sequence of occupation, allowing researchers to study shifts in cultural practices over time.

To date, over 30,000 artefacts have been recovered, including tools crafted from local flint and obsidian, as well as an extensive faunal collection indicating a reliance on medium and large ungulates. The site’s well-preserved stratigraphy enables researchers to trace early human adaptation to climatic shifts during the late Pleistocene, making Gvardjilas Cave an invaluable resource for understanding prehistoric life in the Caucasus.

Notes:
One-Week Intensive: Immerse yourself for a week with accommodation at £1,000 per person.
Two-Week Deep Dive: Extend your learning with a two-week stay for £1,800.
Four-Week Exploration: Master your skills over four weeks for £3,000.

Additional Information and Extras
Our archaeological sessions run Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with a break for lunch at 1:00 pm. Saturdays are dedicated to excursions, where participants will visit an archaeological site each week. These excursions include lunch, then dinner at a local restaurant, and a Georgian wine-tasting experience (see the website for more details). Sundays are reserved as transfer days and for rest.

Project Size: 25-49 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 1 Week

Minimum Age: 16

Experience Required: None

Room and Board Arrangements:
Participants will stay in comfortable shared accommodation across two houses—one located at Bondi and the other in Chiatura. Rooms are primarily twin-shared, with communal bathroom and toilet facilities.

All meals are included in the package, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience throughout your stay. You’ll enjoy a variety of dishes prepared by trainee chefs, offering a taste of local Georgian cuisine. For a true cultural experience, select meals will be accompanied by carefully chosen local Georgian wines, adding a touch of the region’s renowned hospitality to your stay.

Academic Credit:
We will sign Archaeological Skills Passports

Contact Information:


Hazel Taylor

Past to Present Archaeology, 4 Gedling Street, Suite 80, Unit 6 Sneinton Market

Nottingham

Nottinghamshire

NG1 1DS

United Kingdom

projects@pasttopresent.org

support Us

The AIA is North America's largest and oldest nonprofit organization dedicated to archaeology. The Institute advances awareness, education, fieldwork, preservation, publication, and research of archaeological sites and cultural heritage throughout the world. Your contribution makes a difference.

Post a Fieldwork Opportunity