ENG   GEO (Georgian Version is Under Construction)

Dmanisi

crossroad of

Africa

Asia

and Europe

Uneroded basaltic lava under site

is securely dated to

1.85 million

years ago

Dmanisi

cradle

of first

Eurasians

David Lordkipanidze discusses the discovery of one of the world's most important archeological sites, and the challenge of changing humanity's view of it's origins.

Prof. David Lordkipanidze is the first General Director of the Georgian National Museum founded in 2004, which unified 10 major museums in Georgia and 2 research institutes. Under his leadership, the Museum has gradually been transformed from a Soviet-type institution into a vibrant space for culture, education and science. Most recently, Lordkipanidze was involved in the discovery of ancient hominid remains in Dmanisi.



featured articles
HomininsDmanisi is the most productive Lower Paleolithic site in the world, yielding a minimum of 5 individuals represented by over 40 cranial and post-cranial remains. These individuals span different developmental stages (subadult, adult and old adult) and demonstrate the morphological diversity within the Dmanisi paleodeme.Major discoveriesMajor Discoveries at the site of DmanisiDmanisi Paleoanthropology Field SchoolDmanisi Paleoanthropology Field School is a four-week field course in paleoanthropology at the site of Dmanisi, Georgia.AboutRecommendationsGeologyThe sediments at Dmanisi overlie the uneroded Mashavera basalt, which is dated by Argon/Argon to 1.85 million years ago. The sedimentary stratigraphy of Dmanisi is divided into two main units A and B, which are each comprised of several sub-layers.
timeline
  • Scientist dicovered a tooth of a Plio-Pleistocene rhinoceros in the medieval pits of the Dmanisi town, demonstrating that the medieval site of Dmanisi covers the secrets of the early Pleistocene.

  • First stone tools, indicating that Dmanisi is one of the oldest places of human occupation in Eurasia.

  • Discovery of the first hominin remain in Dmanisi: the mandible D211 which reopened the debate about to the first human dispersal out of Africa.

  • Recovery of the two hominin crania – D2280, D2282. These finds demonstrate that Dmanisi hominins are the oldest humans outside of Africa.

  • Discovery of the mandible D2600, that raised the possibility of two different species at Dmanisi at the same time, as this mandible is unusually large.

  • Absolute dating. Uneroded basaltic lava under the site is securely dated to 1.85 million years ago.

  • Discovery of the toothless hominin cranium, D3444, making a perfect fit with the toothless mandible (discovered in 2004). Its condition suggests it could only eat soft plants and animal foods with the help of other individuals.

  • The first stone tool cutmarks were found on animal bones, revealing the meat-eating in Dmanisi hominins.

  • Discovery of the toothless hominin mandible, D3900, making a perfect fit with the toothless cranium D3444.

  • Publication of the postcranial remains of four individuals, partly associated with crania found earlier. Published in Nature. 

  • Publication of the Skull5 in Science.  Changing the perspectives on human evolutionary history.