Dmanisi

A visit to Dmanisi is like a trip back in time. You’ll find yourself in the land of people who lived here 1.8 million years ago - a land of sabre tooth tigers, the Ice Age, and of cave houses from a forgotten age. Gold hoards have been found beneath the earth, while grand architectural monuments stand atop it. This ancient settlement in southern Georgia holds many of humanity’s secrets buried in its depths. Archaeologists have come across traces of ancient civilizations in the various soil layers of Dmanisi since excavations began in 1936, attracting the attention of academics from across the world.

Distance to the location by road from:

Tbilisi

2:10 hr

Batumi

7:35 hr

Kutaisi

5:20 hr

Homo Georgicus

It was in Dmanisi that the skulls of a man and woman who lived 1.8 million years ago were found. Labeled Homo Georgicus, they were later given the Georgian names of Zezva and Mzia, respectively. Their discovery led European historians to dub Georgia the cradle of European civilization, as this is the oldest evidence of human habitation found anywhere on the continent. These skulls can now be seen on display in the Georgian National Museum.

The Dmanisi “Klondike”

A gold hoard was also found in Dmanisi which dates back to the Middle Ages. A museum was built on the very spot where the trove was discovered, allowing visitors to see the treasures for themselves.

In addition to the museum, there are more than 190 historical and architectural monuments around Dmanisi, mostly from the Middle Ages.

Nature and Climate

There is also an abundance of natural beauty to be found in and around Dmanisi, including the Karagoli and Pantiani Lakes and the small lakes that surround them. The sight of the mountains reflected in their mirror-still waters is something otherworldly, and it isn’t hard to imagine that sabre tooth tigers once prowled the area in search of their next meal.

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