ARCHAEOTEK
Bio/Archaeological Techniques and Research Center
BIOARCH CANADA
Georgian Neolithic Excavation and Survey
Marneuli, Kvemo Kartli,
Republic of Georgia
Room and Board
Logistics and Housing
Our excavation project, in and around the town of Marneuli, aims at exploring as much as the Republic of Georgia has to offer. While a small country, transportation in the country can be a challenge.
All our Georgian excavation participants will be housed in double or triple-occupancy rooms, in a hotel on the outskirts of the town of Marneuli, about 15km from the site. Each room is equipped with its own bathroom. Transportation to and from the hotel to the site will be provided.
`The housing and excavation conditions simple are very safe. There are several fully equipped hospitals and stores nearby in the town of Marneuli. Generally speaking, you will have all the advantages of a country life with all the comfort of an urban environment.
Meals
Breakfast and dinner will be served Mon-Fri in the hotel restaurant. Participants will sample a variety of amazing home cooked Georgian and Turkish traditional meals. You are responsible for your own lunches, and all meals during the weekend. Georgian cuisine is generally meat-oriented, but we can accommodate vegetarian diets. However, we are not able to offer a vegan or gluten-free option. There is a small store near the hotel where you can purchase fresh cheese, various meat products, garden vegetables, bread, drinks, etc. In Marneuli, a city about 5km away, you can find restaurants, Shuarma stands and supermarkets.
Dishes may include: cilantro, walnuts, fish, chicken, beef, pork.
Discuss any dietary restrictions prior to joining the team.
Marneuli provides all the amenities of a small European town, which includes hospitals, a bus station, , and all the stores you might need. It is also about a 45 minute drive from the capital city of of Tbilisi where almost anything can be purchased.
Projects Dates and Fees
Dates - Neolithic Excavation and Survey
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Session 1: May 24 - June 19, 2026 (4 weeks mandatory)
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Session 2: June 21 - July 17, 2025 (4 weeks mandatory)
Costs - Georgian Neolithic Excavation and Survey: US$2795 per each 4-week session
Team size: 18-20 participants
The fee is for each individual session. It includes a $695 non refundable registration fees, room and board as described above, lectures, training, most gear, site access, museum clearance. If you register before March 1st, 2026, you are expected to pay at the time of registration $695 (the non-refundable registration portion of the fees), as well as any ancillary fees (such as weekend field trips and chartered bus tickets from Tbilisi to our hotel, and back) within 21 days after being accepted to the program. The remainder of the fees are to be paid in full no later than April 15, 2026. No refund will be considered after March 14, 2026.
The program fees do not include the trip to and from Georgia. Participants must arrange their own travel to and from Georgia, and health/travel insurance. Participants who are not taking the chartered bus from Tbilisi to our hotel (and back to the airport) are responsible to get to our base on their own (instructions will be provided with the travel kit in March 2026). Participants are responsible for their own meals during weekends, and dinner during the week, as described above.
At the present time, no entry visa is required for Georgia for up to 12 weeks for EU, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens.
Covid-19 vaccination is required to be allowed to participate to the program. If at any time, you test positive for COVID-19 while in Georgia, it is strictly the responsibility of the participant to fulfill all the conditions required by law by the host country at their own expense.
Getting There: Travel and Safety
In light of recent global events, questions of safety are on everyone’s mind. Georgia is safe as a whole is very safe. In terms of the pandemic, the situation is under control overall, and our prophylactic measures ensure that our projects are safe for both participants and hosts. Full Covid-19 vaccination is required for all participants and staff.
The Ukraine-Russia war has no impact on Georgia in terms of safety or security.
In terms of physical safety, most crimes in Georgia take the form of petty theft or corruption. Very few violent crimes have occurred in the country. Most of the problems and crimes that are exposed in the media: pro or anti government protests, and tensions between Georgians and newly immigrated Russian peoples.
There is no terrorist threat whatsoever in regards to Georgia. Romania is a country with the lowest terrorism risk in the world - for references, check: https://tradingeconomics.com/georgia/terrorism-index. Also, have a look at the Department of State specific Georgia page for more information: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/georgia-travel-advisory.html . Statistically speaking, as far as crime (and terrorist threats) are concerned, you will be safer in Georgia than in any major city in the US (for reference on comparative crime rates, see https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp). Also, the current migrants/refugees from Russia has caused some tension due to inflationary effects, it has resulted in no major public displays. Since the winter of 2023 there have been frequent anti-government protest in Tbilisi which has resulted in very public crackdown on violent protestors, but keeping out of the highly localized protest venues will keep one out of any harms way. Since Georgia is an independent country, it still has active borders and it controls all transit in and out of the country. Common sense will keep anyone perfectly safe in Georgia.
The simplest (and cheapest) way to get to our base is to fly into the Tbilisi airport (Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport) on Saturday (May 23 or June 20, 2026). With the exception of Air France, most flights arrive around 3am and so it is best to spend the night in a local hotel or Airbnb in Tbilisi. We will arrange for a list of suggested hotel options with the travel pack to be sent closer to the departure date. We will pick up everyone on Sunday (May 24 or June, 2026) morning at 1PM in the Georgian National Museum Staff (side) entrance, and will drive you to our base. The bus ride is, under normal circumstances, 45m long. The cost for a one way ticket on our chartered bus is US$135. Although Bucharest (not the airport which is situated in a different town, about 30km from Bucharest) has its charms and a lot has been done to clean the city and make it safer, it is not recommended you venture into it on arrival. If you want to explore it, we strongly recommend you do it at the end of your stay in Romania, when you are more versed with the local realities and better equipped to deal with the city. Also, Bucharest has been and still is Romania's Covid-19 hotspot, so make sure you protect yourselves diligently. We also offer the possibility to book the return on our chartered bus, directly from the hotel to the airport. We leave from our hotel Saturday (June 20 or July 18, 2026) around 1AM (effectively the night of June 19 or July 17) in order to arrive at the airport around 2AM on Saturday morning so participants can make it on time to the earliest flights (5AM) out of Tbilisi. Participants are personally responsible to obtain all the necessary travel documents.
If you want to get to our hotel on your own from the airport (not recommended), you will need to take a taxi from the airport to Marneuli. The cost varies appreciably, and is usually SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive from the airport.
Sightseeing
Marneuli is located in the southern part of the Kvemo Kartli region. The locality of Marneuli is itself surrounded by a few historical and cultural sites that students are encouraged to visit, such as the Swabian (German) town of Bolnisi, paleolithic site of Dmanisi and the Medieval David Gareja Monastery .
Being close to Tbilisi, from there one has ready access to many of the important cultural and historical sites of Georgia. But keep in mind because of the state of many of the roads, they are not all necessarily accessible to fully explore in a single weekend.
The three ancient capitals of various Kingdoms of Georgia are: Kutaisi - capital of Colchis (of Jason and the Argonauts fame), Mtskheta - capital of the Kingdom of Iberia, and Tbilisi the capital of the later Medieval United Kingdom of Georgia. All three cities offers a unique blend of cultural richness and natural beauty.
Kutaisi, in the province of Imereti, is the second largest city in Georgia and has a rich and stunning history, coupled with a number of natural wonders like Prometheus Caves or Martvili Canyon and nearby important archaeological sites like the Geguti Royal Palace and the Colchian ritual town of Vani.
Mtskheta, the medieval capital of Iberia is only an hour from Tbilisi and an easy day trip The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important center for the history of Christianity in Georgia. See the medieval from atop Jvari Monastery, explore the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in the center of the town, or just explore the arts and crafts Mtskheta has to offer.
As the modern capital of Georgia, the city of Tbilisi has a multitude of sites and experience to to behold. From Museums, to concerts, Wine festivals to Sulfur Baths, Tbilisi has much to appeal to any and all. Additionally, it is the transportation hub, that can take you to to nearby locations to explore. From hiking in the Caucasus's Mountains in Kazbegi, to camping in the Vashlovani Nature preserve, to exploring further afield like Western Georgia or even Armenia, Tbilisi is the key to the Caucasus.
Field Trips
Because public transportation in Georgia is either lacking or is highly unreliable, and due to the COVID-19 situation, for the safety of our participants, our staff and our hosts, we want to ensure our participants get to explore the magic of Georgia, while being as safe as possible. As a such, we are organizing two weekend day trips, and two full weekend trips to some amazing sites and museums:
First Weekend: Kvemo Kartli and Tbilisi
Day Trip #1: Bolnisi Archaeological Museum, Dmanisi Paleolithic Site, Dmanisi Late Bronze- Iron Age Site (easy hiking required: 15min each way)
Optional drop off in Tbilisi for the Night (overnight hotel at your own expense)
Day Trip #2: Trip to Tbilisi, Georgian National Museum
Cost: US$160 for both trips or US$125 for the Bolnisi Trip and US$50 for the Tbilisi trip (the fees include transportation to the site/museum and entrance ticket – photo rights not included)
Second Weekend: Vardzi Tour (Full Weedkend)
Day 1: Chikiani (Obsidian stone source, intensive hiking required, 30min each way) & Lake Parvani; – Akhalkalaki Castle (moderate hiking required, 15min each way), Khertversi fortress (moderate hiking required, 15min each way).
Optional hike to Kurgans (intensive hiking required, 60min each way)
Day 2: Vadzia Cave Monastery site. Moderately intensive hiking, several hours Cost: US$250 for full weekend (the fees include transportation to the site/museum and entrance ticket – hotel, dinner and breakfast, you provide your own lunches)
Third Weekend: Winery & Monastery Tour: (Full Weekend)
Day 1: Signaghi, Signaghi Museum, St. Nino’s Convent, Shumi Winery, Telavi (Hotel, Dinner on your own)
Day 2: Alaverdi Monastary, Gremis’s Archaangel Complex, Nekresi Monastary, Khareba WineryCost: US$250 for full weekend (the fees include transportation to the sites/museum/ wineries and entrance ticket – hotel breakfast, you provide your own lunches and dinner)
