nodar gelovani

Long before kingdoms, vineyards, roads, or written memory, the landscapes of southern Georgia were already part of the human story. Near Bolnisi, in the historic region of Kvemo Kartli, lies Dmanisi, one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Here, within the remains of a medieval town and the much older earth beneath it, scientists discovered the skulls known in Georgia as Zezva and Mzia: early human ancestors who lived around 1.8 million years ago. These remains are...

When people think of wine, countries like France, Italy, or Spain often come to mind. However, archaeological discoveries have revealed that the true birthplace of winemaking lies in Georgia, in the South Caucasus. One of the most remarkable discoveries was made at Gadachrili Gora, an ancient archaeological site located near the village of Imiri in the Bolnisi Municipality. Here, archaeologists uncovered fragments of 8,000-year-old clay qvevri—large earthenware vessels traditionally used to...

When people think of Bolnisi, they often associate it with ancient churches, archaeological discoveries, or Georgia's long winemaking tradition. Yet one of the region's most remarkable stories begins even earlier—with the first farmers who cultivated the land thousands of years ago. Bolnisi and the wider Kvemo Kartli region are home to one of the oldest agricultural landscapes in the South Caucasus. Long before cities were built and kingdoms emerged, people here were growing wheat, laying...