Archaeological Research of Late Neolithic Village in the Caucasus, Georgia
The project is dedicated to the systematic investigation of Khramis Didi Gora as a key Neolithic settlement in the South Caucasus, with a focus on understanding long-term processes of spatial organisation, social interaction, and domestic life. Through stratigraphic excavation, detailed spatial analysis, and comprehensive study of material culture, the research aims to reconstruct patterns of settlement development, architectural transformation, and household practices over time.
Particular attention is given to the interplay between built environments and social structures, examining how geography, resource distribution, and human agency shaped the organisation of space and community dynamics. By situating Khramis Didi Gora within broader regional trajectories of Neolithization, the project seeks to illuminate the emergence of early social differentiation, modes of subsistence, and the role of place-making in prehistoric lifeways. Ultimately, the project aspires to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of human-environment relations and the formation of early sedentary communities in the South Caucasus.
Lead Instructors and Subject Experts in Summer School
Mariam Eloshvili
PhD Candidate, Ilia State University. Director of the project. Interested in socio-economic and cultural aspects of Neolithic societies.
Ana Davitashvili
PhD student, University of Warsaw. She is interested in Bioarchaeology. studying ancient diet, husbandry practices and seasonal mobility through stable isotope studies.
Nino Tavartkiladze
PhD researcher at the Laboratory of Anthropological Research at TSU, her research integrates archaeological, anthropological, and genetic data to provide comprehensive insights into past human populations.
Tamar Sidamon-Eristavi
PhD student at Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, specialising in the conservation and restoration of archaeological materials.
Khramis Didi Gora- Summer School