Deputy Director of the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia

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Master’s Degree (Major): History
Tbilisi State University. 1980

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Doctoral Candidate of Science in History;
Archaeological material of IV and VI AD of Nokalakevi.
Issued by Board of Academic Experts of Georgia, Nov 1990

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Certificate of training in Archaeological Studies, Museology, Conservation and Excavation
Cairo University, Feb 2001

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Doctor of science (Professor) in History. issued by Board of Academic Experts of Georgia
Jan 2004

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Certificate in 'Stratigic Planning workshop on the Future of the Confederation and Arts Management
Professional Development Programme Issued by the Confederation - Art and Culture May 2004

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WORK EXPERIENCE
Currently, David's main interest is the 1st Millenium BC in Nokalakevi.
In 2005, David secured funds from the Ministry of Culture and Sports for the renovation of the Nokalakevi Museum.
In 2000-2001, by the order of world Bank, David oversaw the conservation and restoration work carried out on the Egrisi Kings’ Palace (VI c) in Nokalakevi.
In 1995, David oversaw the conservation of a water basin (IV-V cc) unique in all the Caucasus and a fortification tower in Nokalakevi (the capital of Egrisi Kingdom). The work was carried out by order of the “The Open Society of Georgia” foundation (the Sorosi’s foundation).
1994 till today Deputy director of S.Janashia’s Museum of Georgia
1991-1998 Lecturer at Tbilisi State University in History of Georgia and Archaeology (affiliated with Akhaltsikhe)
1991-1994 Senior scientific researcher in the S.Janashia’s Museum of Georgia.
1981-1990 Scientific researcher in the S.Janashia’s Museum of Georgia.

FIELD WORK
2003 till today The head of Nokalakevi’s archaeological expedition
1981-2002 Deputy head of Nokalakevi’s archaeological expedition
1977-1980 Deputy head of Pitsunda’s archaeological expedition

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PUBLICATIONS (last 10 of 42)

LOMITASHVILI David, 1999, On the study of one group of ceramics from VI-Vcc B.C. of “Dzeglis megobari”, #1(104), Tbilisi;
LOMITASHVILI David, 1999, “Materials for the history of manufacturing in old Kolkida”, “Moambe” of the Museum, #43-B, Tbilisi;
LOMITASHVILI David, LORTKIPANIDZE Beso, 2000, “On the problem of intern development of west-Georgian town /by results of archaeological researches on Nokalakevi settlement/ – International scientific conference “The Archaeology and Ethnography of Caucasus”, Baku;
LOMITASHVILI David, 1999-2001, “The ceramics of VIII-Vcc B.C. from Nokalakevi” Annual of scientific works, #IV-V, Tbilisi;. LOMITASHVILI David, LORTKIPANIDZE Beso, 2001, “The Murvan-deaf’s invasion in Tsikhegoji by written sources”, The scientific works of the professors and students, #-III, TSU, Tbilisi;
LOMITASHVILI David, 2002, “Nokalakevi I the culture of workshop-settlements’ /the workshop for producing beads, the Kolkhish-Egyptian analogs/ – The questions of the history and theory of culture, #-XIII,
LOMITASHVILI David, COLVIN Ian, ARMOUR Nick, 2002, “The early Christianity monument in Nokalakevi-Archaeopolosi”, the VI-th Conference of Christian archaeology in the Center of Archaeology, Tbilisi;
LOMITASHVILI David, KEBULADZE Nino, 1999, “The whetstones or the touchstones”, “Dzeglis Megobari”, #4(107), Tbilisi;
LOMITASHVILI David, KEBULADZE Nino, 1999, “Goldsmith in VIII-VIIcc B.C. from Kolkhida (by materials of Nokalakevi)”, “Meskheti”, TSU, v.III, Tbilisi;
LOMITASHVILI David, KEBULADZE Nino, 2000, “The goldsmith in Kolkhida in VIII-VIIcc B.C./over the materials from the settlement of Nokalakevi”, The actual problems of study of humanities, Slovenian University, issue III, Baku

Head of Expedition
Member of the Archaeologcal council of the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia

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Doctor of Archaeology
St. Andrew the First-Called Georgian University of the Patriarchate of Georgia
2013

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Master of Humanities
Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
2006

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Bachelor of History sciences
Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
2004

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Niko's main inerest is in the Archaeology of West Georgia (Colchis and Egrisi). In 2007, he held the position of Archaeolgical scientist at the Georgian National Museum and later in 2011 became an assistant curator. He has been involved with the Anglo-Georgian Expedition since 2003, becoming a site supervisor in 2006, deputy head in 2011 and head of the expedition in 2014. Outside the expedition, Niko has been active in a number of projects aimed at the protection and restoration of historical and archaeological monuments in West Geoaria.

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PUBLICATIONS:

2014 - I. Colvin, B. Lortkifanidze, N. Murgulia - Historical overview of Colchis-Egrisi-Lazika. Nokalakevi • Tsikhegoji • Archaeopolis. Archaeological excavations 2001–2010. Anglo-Georgian Expedition to Nokalakevi. BAR International series 2612, Archaeopress, Oxford, England. p. 1-11;
2014 - Coauthor - AGEN Trench A Results: 2001-2010. Coauthor. Nokalakevi • Tsikhegoji • Archaeopolis. Archaeological excavations 2001–2010. Anglo-Georgian Expedition to Nokalakevi. BAR International series 2612, Archaeopress, Oxford, England. p. 25-42.
2013 - D. Lomitashvili, N. Murgulia. Osindale Castle Complex. Bulletin of the Georgian National Museum, Vol. IV (49-B), p. 145-158
2013 - N. Murgulia. The Classification of the Egrisi Kingdom Fortifications. Bulletin of the Georgian National Museum, Vol. IV (49-B), p. 159-169
2013 - Coauthor - Report on excavation in 2010 by Anglo-Georgian expedition at Nokalakevi. DZIEBANI - Journal of the Georgian Archaeology, # 21, p. 44-63
2013 - N. Murgulia. The Subsystems of the fortification system of Egrisi Kingdom. Journal - "Iberia-Colchis", #9, pages 52-67, http://dspace.nplg.gov.ge/bitstream/1234/31101/1/Iberia_Kolxeti_2013_N9.pdf
2012 - N. Murgulia. The fortification System of the central part of the Egrisi Kingdom. Bulletin of the Georgian National Museum, Vol. III (48-B), p. 82-100.
2012 - G. Abdaladze, B. Kupatadze, N. Akhmeteli, N. Murgulia. History 11 (from ancient time to 18th c.). The schoolbook for 11th class pupils, approved by ministry of Education and science of Georgia. Diogene Publishers
2012 - G. Abdaladze, B. Kupatadze, N. Akhmeteli, N. Murgulia - History 12. 19th-20th cc. The schoolbook for 12th class pupils, approved by Ministry of education and science of Georgia; Diogene Publishers
2011 - P. Everill, P. Marter, D. Lomitashvili, N. Murgulia - Mapping Archaeopolis. Survey of multi-period site of Nokalakevi. Bulletin of the Georgian National Museum, vol. II (47-B), p. 102-115

History
Tbilisi State University. 1981

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Candidate of Science (Doctoral) in History.
Issued Georgian academy of science. 1991

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Georgian history of the 4th-8th century AD Certificate of training in Archaeological Studies, Museology, Conservation and Excavation.
Cairo University. Feb 2001.

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In 1981, Beso started work in the Medieval archaeological department in the Georgia State Museum and now holds the position of senior scientific worker. At the same time he started working with the Georgian Expedition to Nokalakevi and continues to this day as its deputy director.
In 1991, he submitted his thesis in history, themed on the cities in West Georgia of the 4th – 8th centuries and specifically Archaeololis, Nokalakevi.
From 2000 Beso took the position as history teacher at 2 schools in Tbilisi
He is holding the position of 'expert' untill 2006 at the Ministry of Education, Georgia
He has published 20 academic articles in History and Archaeology in Tbilisi and Baku and also 4 children’s books in the history of Georgia. In 2001 one of his children’s books, entitled “the world of Georgian Mythology” was nominated for the Georgian State Premium book prize.
He is the author of the new education standards (curriculum) in History and will train teachers in this new standard from 2006.

Master’s Degree ( Major) Chemistry
Tbilisi State University. 1985

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Workshop certificate in conservation
Shloss-Gottorf Museum (Germany). 2001

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In 2004, she was awarded her doctoral degree, which was entitled: “The scientific bases of the restoration-conservation of archaeological metal”.

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In 1986, Nino started work at the Chemical-Restoration laboratory of the S.Janashia’s State Museum, Georgia and in 2003 became head of the department.

Nino currently works on restoring and researching archaeological metal, glass and ceramics from all institutions in Georgia, these include the Centre of Archaeological Research, Nokalakevi Museum, Batumi Museum and Vani Museum.
In 2002 Nino became the Anglo-Georian Expedition's chemical restorer.

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Publications:

1. KEBULADZE Nino, LOMITASHVILI David, 1999, “The whetstones or the touchstones”, (by materials of Nokalakevi)”, “Dzeglis Megobari”, #4(107), Tbilisi;
2. KEBULADZE Nino, LOMITASHVILI David, 1999, “Goldsmith in VIII-VIIcc B.C. from Kolkhida (by materials of Nokalakevi)”, “Meskheti”, TSU, v.III, Tbilisi;
3. KEBULADZE Nino, LOMITASHVILI David, 2000, “The goldsmith in Kolkhida in VIII-VIIcc B.C./over the materials from the settlement of Nokalakevi”, The actual problems of study of humanities, Slovenian University, issue III, Baku;
4. KEBULADZE Nino, TVALCHRELIDZE Zurab, GOTSIRIDZE Tina, 2000, “Note on the study so-called “black Mass” was found in the lamps of IX-Xcc”, “Archaeology and Ethnography of Caucasus”, Baku;
5. KEBULADZE Nino, 2001, “The conservation of the archaeological wet wood from the Choloqi side settlement” (West Georgia), “Dzeglis Megobari”, #2; Tbilisi;
6. KEBULADZE Nino, 2002, “Corrosion of Iron and Restoration-Conservation of Archaeological Artefacts”, “Dziebani” The journal of the Centre for Archaeological Studies Georgian Academy of Sciences, #10, ISSN 1512-0597, Tbilisi;
7. KEBULADZE Nino, ABESADZE Tsisana, 2002, “The history of the chemical-restoration laboratory of the Georgian State Museum”, “Moambe” of the Museum, #44, Tbilisi;
8. KEBULADZE Nino, 2003, “Note on the identification and reason for a repeated corrosion product from Georgian State Museum copper alloy artifacts”, Surface cleaning material and methods-International conference, Restauratorentag des VDR, abstracts of the lectures, No3, Bonn;
9. KEBULADZE Nino, MESKHIDZE Eka, 2004, “On the restoration and conservation of the double zoomorphic figurines from the city of Tsikhegoji-Archaeopolis” (West Georgia), Ukrainian ceramological journal, #2-3, ISSN 1810-4843, Opishne.
10. KEBULADZE Nino, TVALCHRELIDZE Zurab, 2003-2004, “Note on the study of the material was found in the lamps from Ivrispiri’s Qvabebi”, “Moambe” of the Museum, #45, ISSN1512-1895, Tbilisi.

Director AGEN
Researcher, University of Cambridge

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2001-present Director Anglo-Georgian Archaeological Expedition to Nokalakevi

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2005-present Researcher, CambridgeSCP, University of Cambridge

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1999-2001 Junior Dean, Worcester College, Oxford

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2000 International Summer School in Georgian Studies, Tbilisi State University

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1996-2001 Master of Studies & DPhil Byzantine History, Senior Scholar, Worcester College, Oxford

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My main research interests are the South Caucasus in Late Antiquity and the Late Roman classicising historians.

I began work on the South Caucasus over 20 years ago with an undergraduate thesis that later developed into a doctoral dissertation. I studied modern and classical Georgian as part of my doctoral studies at Oxford and I've been a regular visitor to Georgia and the Caucasus since 1998. I have a working knowledge of Georgian and wide experience of the country and the wider Transcaucasus. As Director of the archaeological expedition to Nokalakevi since 2001 I've had the privilege of introducing some 200 archaeological volunteers to Georgia, its history, archaeology and culture.  I also lead specialist Historical and Archaeological tours for leading UK companies, Martin Randall, Andante Tours and Steppes Travel. I've worked at both Oxford and Cambridge, including supervising undergraduates for the Near East in the Age of Justinian and Muhammad option.

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Selected Publications

Colvin, Ian, 'Comparing Procopius and Malalas', in Procopius of Caesarea: Literary and Historical Interpretations (Abingdon ; New York, NY, 2017), 201–14
Colvin, Ian, Besik Lortkipanidze, and Nikoloz Murghulia, ‘Historical Overview of Colchis-Egrisi-Lazika’, in Nokalakevi Tsikhegoji Archaeopolis: Archaeological excavations 2001-2010, BAR International Series, 2612 (Oxford: Archaeopress, 2014), pp. 1–11
Colvin, Ian, ‘Reporting Battles and Understanding Campaigns in Procopius and Agathias: Classicising Historians’ Use of Archived Documents as Sources’, in War and Warfare in Late Antiquity, Late Antique Archaeology, 8, 2 vols. (Leiden ; Boston: Brill, 2013), ii, 571–98
Colvin, Ian, ‘Nokalakevi: Excavations in the Land of the Golden Fleece’, Past Horizons, 2008, 26–31
Colvin, Ian, ‘The Early Christian Monument in Nokalakevi-Archaeopolis’, The 6th Conference on Christian Archaeology in the Centre of Archaeology, 2002, 13–16

Senior Lecturer in Applied Archaeological Techniques

MCIfA (Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA)
Member of the British Institute at Ankara

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PhD
University of Southampton, 2006

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M.A.
University of Southampton, 1999

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B.A. (Hons)
S.D.U.C., Lampeter, Wales 1994

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I have been involved in archaeology, in some capacity or another, since the age of 16 when I was a trainee on an excavation at Wroxeter Roman city. Over the last 25 years I have seen field archaeology through the eyes of a young amateur, an undergraduate student, a postgraduate student and a full-time professional. As the Site Director of the Anglo-Georgian Expedition I believe my priority is to ensure that we have a well organised, professionally excavated site, but I also hope that the volunteers we train each year experience the same wonder, joy and passion for archaeology that I have experienced over the years.

I have had the privilege to work on many stunning sites during my career. These include Roman buildings excavated whilst I was with the Museum of London Archaeology Service and described by the "Evening Standard" as "London's Pompeii"; huge Iron Age farmsteads in the Cambridgeshire Fens; and impressive Neolithic Cursus monuments in Dumfriesshire. However, I believe that the site of Nokalakevi must rate as a world class archaeological wonder, albeit little known at the moment, and represents an unmissable experience for anyone with an interest in archaeology - regardless of what stage of their career they may have reached.

Personally I remain excited by the opportunity to be involved with this project and this site and, by expecting the highest of standards from our volunteers, excited to think that the Anglo-Georgian Expedition is adding its name to the prestigious history of Nokalakevi/ Archaeopolis

Osteoarchaeologist, Cambridge Archaeological Unit

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MPhil-PhD part-time research (2007-2012)
Cave bone taphonomy in the Yorkshire Dales

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MSc Forensic Archaeology
Bournemouth University
November 2000.

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BA Hons Archaeology and Anthropology
University of Wales, Lampeter
July 1998.

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Areas of interest are osteoarchaeology, taphonomy, site formation processes and associated recording methodologies.

Geographic areas of interest are the Black Sea Littoral, specifically that of Helenistic Colchis and the Medieval and Meroitic periods of Sudan.

As the osteologist for the Anglo-Georgian Expedition, I train students in the excavation, recording and lifting of skeletons and their associated contexts; further, they are guided on the best practice for cleaning the skeletal material and its immediate conservation. click here for a flash presentation the of Area B skeletal inhumations excavated in 2002

I am a member of the British Association for Bological Anthropology (BABAO), The Paleopathology Association (PPA), the British Institute at Ankara (BIAA), and the Sudan Archaeological Research Society (SARS).

BA ancient History and Archaeology
Birmingham University
1993

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Nick started his career as a field archaeologist in 1989 and continues to this day. He has excavated sites from the Neolithic through Roman to the late industrial period all over Britain.

Now settled in Cambridge, Nick specialises in the conservation of historic monuments.

In 2000, Ian Colvin asked Nick to carry out a feasibility study with Professor Lomitashvili of the possibility of a collaborative excavation of the Archaepolis in Nokalakevi. It was decided that a small scale excavation to further explore the stratigraphy and phasing of the site around the lower town fortifications was an important first step to further build on understanding the complexities of its occupation.