UNEARTHING THE PAST SINCE 1900
  • BECOME A MEMBER
  • RENEW
  • GIVE NOW
  • SEARCH
  • ONLINE PORTAL
  • American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR)American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR)
  • ABOUT
    • WELCOME FROM ASOR OFFICERS
    • FACTS & FIGURES
    • MISSION, BYLAWS, & STRATEGIC PLAN
    • HISTORY OF ASOR
    • COMMITTEES
    • POLICIES
    • FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS
    • ARCHIVES
    • AFFILIATED PROJECTS
    • AFFILIATED RESEARCH CENTERS
    • ASOR’s Honors and Awards
    • CONTACT US
  • CULTURAL
    HERITAGE
    • ABOUT CULTURAL HERITAGE INITIATIVES
    • UPDATES
    • TUTORIALS
    • Who We Are
  • ANNUAL
    MEETING
    • REGISTRATION
    • HOTEL RESERVATIONS
    • ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULES
    • SPONSOR & EXHIBIT
    • ASOR Online Library
    • HONORS & AWARDS
    • ANNUAL MEETING SCHOLARSHIPS
    • PAST & FUTURE ANNUAL MEETINGS
  • MEMBERSHIP
    & RESOURCES
    • INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS
    • INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
    • NEWS@ASOR
    • PAST ASOR NEWS, MONTH BY MONTH
    • ONLINE RESOURCES
    • PHOTO COLLECTION
    • EARLY CAREER MEMBER RESOURCES
  • FELLOWSHIPS
    & GRANTS
    • SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FIELDWORK PARTICIPATION
    • GRANTS FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECTS
    • RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS FOR MEMBERS
    • MEMBERSHIP & ANNUAL MEETING SCHOLARSHIPS
    • ASOR-AFFILIATED RESEARCH CENTERS FELLOWSHIPS
    • OTHER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS
  • PUBLICATIONS
    • BOOK SERIES & MONOGRAPHS
    • BULLETIN OF ASOR
    • JOURNAL OF CUNEIFORM STUDIES
    • MAARAV
    • NEAR EASTERN ARCHAEOLOGY
    • THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY
    • LEVANTINE CERAMICS PROJECT
  • FRIENDS
    OF ASOR
    • Webinars
    • TOURS
    • THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY
    • ASOR ONLINE LIBRARY
  • Donate
    • FY25 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS
    • LIFETIME HONOR ROLL OF DONORS
    • ASOR LEGACY CIRCLE
    • WAYS TO DONATE
Excavation area view near Pkhero in Georgia.

 SHARE

 
 
 
 
 

NEWS@ASOR E-NEWSLETTER

ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY E-NEWSLETTER

PAST ASOR NEWS, MONTH BY MONTH

ASOR LEGACY CIRCLE MEMBERS

LIFETIME HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

FY25 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

ASOR ANNUAL MEETING

2024 Shepard Urgent Action Grant: Rescue Excavation of a Chalcolithic Settlement in Southwest Georgia

Gia Chilingarashvili, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and Georgian National Museum

Thanks to a 2024 Shepard Urgent Action Grant,  our project team conducted a 20-day small-scale excavation at a recently discovered Chalcolithic site in the village of Pkhero in southwest Georgia. This site has suffered damage from both natural and human activities. Urgent excavations became necessary after a portion of the settlement was destroyed during road construction, resulting in a 1-2-meter-high section that continued to collapse periodically. Ongoing erosion, exacerbated by heavy rainfall, threatened to destroy the remaining archaeological layers. Immediate intervention was essential to prevent further loss of the settlement.

The aim of the rescue operation was to collect primary data to determine the nature of the monument by examining its stratigraphy and collecting samples. This data will enable us to develop a long-term strategy for research and conservation of the site. Additionally, the results will help us implement plans to protect the site from further damage.

Archaeological sites from the Chalcolithic period are extremely sparse in Georgia. This site holds significant scientific potential for understanding various aspects of late prehistory in the South Caucasus. The settlement’s location is noteworthy, as it is situated near the Persati Plateau, an alpine pastoral zone that serves as one of the region’s primary pastures and economic resources. Geographically, this area represents the only natural pathway connecting the still-active alpine pastures (Fig.1).

Archaeological site and access pathway to the pastures.
Fig.1 “Tradition Echoes” Archaeological site and access pathway to the pastures.

According to the plan, a 10 x 10-meter trench designated as E3 was excavated in the selected area and divided into four equal squares by 1-meter-wide bulkheads. In square E3.2, a classical pit and two early medieval pits were uncovered near the surface, containing an abundance of pottery sherds.

After 20 days of fieldwork, we determined that the site features clay layers measuring 3 meters in height, overlaying the Chalcolithic horizon. Evidence of subsequent activities from the Classical and Medieval periods is present within the upper levels of this clay (Fig.2). The genesis of the intense clay remains unclear; however, stratigraphy indicates that sedimentation occurred repeatedly over time. The alternating loam layers vary in color, and in some cases, they are separated by thin, brownish granular layers (Fig.3). This suggests that accumulation was not a one-time event and likely occurred after the Late Chalcolithic, rather than before the Classical era. Samples from each clay layer were collected for sedimentological and palynological analysis.

The main excavation area, Square E3.
Fig. 2 The main excavation area, Square E3.
Clay deposits in Square E3.
Fig.3 Clay deposits in Square E3.

It is important to note that the clay sediments were not sterile. Even at a depth of 2 meters, they contained abundant charcoal inclusions, along with a small quantity of obsidian fragments and ceramic sherds. This trench reached a maximum depth of 2.5 meters in square E3.3, and we were unable to access the Chalcolithic layer due to the thickness of the clay and time constraints. It can, however, be assumed that the Chalcolithic layer does exist beneath it, and that activities from later periods did not penetrate down to this layer.

This assumption is supported by two small trenches (N1 and N2) located adjacent to the main excavation, positioned above an artificial cut associated with road construction (Fig.4). The purpose of excavating these features was to investigate the disturbed pits containing prehistoric material observed in the profile.

View of the Excavation Area.
Fig. 4 View of the Excavation Area, showing area disturbed by road construction.

In the small trenches located approximately two meters from the main excavation, we confirmed the presence of the Chalcolithic layer. This layer contained a substantial amount of archaeological material, including a small vessel and a grinding stone, both of which were recorded in situ in Trench N1 (Fig.5). Although the context of these findings remains unclear, the associated feature extends into the unexcavated area toward Square E3. We did not widen the trench, as the primary focus was a half-destroyed pit, the excavation of which yielded a wide variety of materials. In the second trench, a Chalcolithic pit was identified, along with an intensive cultural layer that extends beneath the clay deposits toward Square E3.

During our work in the Chalcolithic layers, we noted that all layers from this period, including those within the pits and the bottoms of the pits, slope toward the west (Fig.6) It is noteworthy that the clay layers above and the later pits do not exhibit a similar slope. This noted slope is attributed to a natural event that occurred in the late prehistoric period, which caused the settlement to incline toward the west. This event may have contributed to the abandonment of the settlement.

Chalcolithic vessel and grinding stone.
Fig. 5 Chalcolithic vessel and grinding stone.
Excavated pit in Trench N2, showing the sloped bottom of the pit.
Fig.6 Excavated pit in Trench N2, showing the sloped bottom of the pit.

In summary, our excavation has yielded valuable insights into this significant Chalcolithic site. Moving forward, the analysis of the collected materials will enhance our understanding of late prehistory in the South Caucasus.

The expedition team for rescue excavations of a chalcolithic settlement in southwest Georgia.
The expedition team.

Established in 2020 with annual contributions, the Shepard Urgent Action Grants program was created to support emergency and rapid response activities on archaeological sites in the greater Mediterranean region. Shepard Grants have provided over $74,000 in support of projects with urgent need since the program began. While preference is given to projects and teams with current ASOR affiliation, applications will be considered from all projects. All 2024 grant funds have been awarded, and pending the receipt of funds, ASOR plans to resume accepting applications for Shepard Grants in 2025.

Read more about the grant program here.

BROWSE THE NEWS ARCHIVE

  • Fieldwork Report: Lonnie Reid
  • Thank You Fiscal Year 2025 Donors
  • DC Day of Archaeology 2025
  • Table of Contents for Near Eastern Archaeology 88.2 (2025)

Latest Posts from @ASORResearch

asor_research

Initiating and supporting research of the history and cultures of the Near East and wider Mediterranean world.


Lonnie Reid, a 2024 Fieldwork Scholarship recipien
Lonnie Reid, a 2024 Fieldwork Scholarship recipient, excavated at Qach Rresh in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Using magnetometry, Lonnie surveyed the Neo-Assyrian fields with a unique and precise method. Click the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/06/fieldwork-report-reid) in our bio to read about his experience!
#asorfieldwork #asordigs


The #ObjectoftheWeek from this week's ANE Today: P
The #ObjectoftheWeek from this week's ANE Today: Part of a model chariot, with an impression of the sun god Shamash rising over the mountains. Ceramic, ca. 2000 – 1600 BCE. Metropolitan Museum of Art 48.131. Photo courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/324049


Many people assume there is only one god in the Ol
Many people assume there is only one god in the Old Testament—one who is both omniscient and omnipotent. However, a closer look reveals many other gods who differ from the stereotype. Read the second article in a 4-part series by Michael Hundley in the latest ANE Today by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/god-hebrew-bible-part1/) in our bio.

📸 ©2021 GrandPalaisRmn (Musée du Louvre) / Stéphane Maréchalle.


ASOR is turning 125—and we want you to be part o
ASOR is turning 125—and we want you to be part of the celebration! Our special anniversary dinner will take place during this year's Annual Meeting in Boston, and we hope you'll join us for this unforgettable evening of community, celebration, and reflection on ASOR's history. 

We'll be kicking off the festive occasion at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza. Enjoy an evening of exceptional dining, entertainment, and ASOR-themed activities, featuring speakers who have been integral to ASOR's mission. Your presence will help make this milestone truly meaningful. Register for the event by clicking the link in our bio.


Summer is in full swing, but it’s not too early
Summer is in full swing, but it’s not too early to think about your fall calendar. The Annual Meeting Program-at-a-Glance, as well as information about business meetings and special events, can be found on the 2025 ASOR Annual Meeting Schedules Page. Make sure to include the plenary address by Timothy P. Harrison and ASOR’s 125th Anniversary Celebration when you plan your ASOR 2025 itinerary. Check it out by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/am/2025/schedules-2025) in our bio.


We did it (once again)! The 2025 fiscal year has o
We did it (once again)! The 2025 fiscal year has officially come to a close, and ASOR has set a record member participation rate for gifts this year thanks to our generous donors. It is truly gratifying to see our members and friends choosing to invest in ASOR and helping us make our work possible. Thank you again for your support!


ASOR was delighted to participate in the DC Day of
ASOR was delighted to participate in the DC Day of Archaeology Festival by @aitc_dc this past Saturday, June 28 at Tudor Place. The ASOR table included activities like a sandbox to dig up artifacts, puzzles, trivia, plus posters about our organization and free journals to give out! Read more by clicking the link in our bio. #dcdayofarchaeology


To start off our new series of #ObjectoftheWeek: F
To start off our new series of #ObjectoftheWeek: Funerary model of cow giving birth. Probably from Meir, Egypt, c. 2040 – 1985 BCE. Royal Ontario Museum 910.18.16.1. Photo courtesy of ROM: https://collections.rom.on.ca/objects/184967


What is a god? While the question is simple enough
What is a god? While the question is simple enough, the answer depends on context and perspective. Read the first article in a 4-part series by Michael Hundley in the newest Ancient Near East Today by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/god-ancient-near-east/) in our bio.


Make sure to join ASOR this Saturday, June 28, for
Make sure to join ASOR this Saturday, June 28, for this year's DC Day of Archaeology Festival at Tudor Place in Washington, DC. Stop by the event organized by @aitc_dc from 10AM to 3PM for music, food, and fun activities!


This spring, McKinley Tech High School students ex
This spring, McKinley Tech High School students explored Black Georgetown’s legacy at Mt. Zion–Female Union Band Historic Memorial Park. Through virtual reality and archaeological research, the program encouraged students to engage with the history of Black communities and experiences in Washington, D.C. Read the story by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/06/mckinley-tech-mt-zion) in our bio!


ASOR is now offering affiliation to civil society
ASOR is now offering affiliation to civil society organizations and conservation projects as a way for them to be part of the ASOR community. Applications are reviewed by ASOR’s Cultural Heritage Committee. ASOR-affiliated projects are eligible for Shepard Urgent Action Grants. Learn how to apply for affiliation with the link in our bio.


Check out the special June issue of NEA 88.2 on on
Check out the special June issue of NEA 88.2 on one of the most famous sites in the ancient Near East—Megiddo. Read the Table of Contents by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/06/nea88.2-toc/) in our bio.


ASOR CHI was delighted to participate in this year
ASOR CHI was delighted to participate in this year’s Arab Network of Civil Society Organizations to Safeguard Cultural Heritage (ANSCH) Conference on May 28–29. ASOR spoke on the types of free resources available through ASOR for civil society organizations in the region, including tutorials for cultural heritage surveys, funding through Shepard Urgent Action Grants, and the ability to join the ASOR community as affiliates. Read more by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/chi/updates/2025/06/asor-ansch-conference) in our bio.


ASOR has turned 125—and you’re invited to join
ASOR has turned 125—and you’re invited to join the celebration by participating in a special dinner event on Saturday night at this year’s Annual Meeting in Boston!

We’ll be kicking off the festive occasion at 6:45 pm on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza. Join us for an evening of great dining, entertainment, and ASOR-themed activities, as well as speakers who have been part of ASOR’s mission. Regular dinner tickets cost $100, but to ensure that everyone can attend, we are offering discount codes for reduced ticket prices of $25 and $50. Read more and register for the event by clicking the link in our bio!


In ancient Egypt, marriage was key to establishing
In ancient Egypt, marriage was key to establishing a household. What were the expectations of wives and what do we know about women’s rights when entering into—or leaving—marriage? Read the newest ANE Today by Alison Wilkinson by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/ancient-egypt-marriage/) in our bio.


Gabbi Graber, a 2024 Stevan B. Dana Fieldwork Scho
Gabbi Graber, a 2024 Stevan B. Dana Fieldwork Scholarship recipient, excavated at Tel Burna in the Shephelah hills of Israel. Drawing from personal reflections and field experience, Gabbi shares what it was like to dig in this storied landscape. Read her fieldwork report by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/05/fieldwork-report-graber) in our bio.


As you embark on fieldwork and research this summe
As you embark on fieldwork and research this summer, ASOR invites you to make submissions to our Virtual Archaeology Initiative. The Virtual Archaeology Initiative is a growing collection of digital resources that illustrate or teach various steps involved in the archaeological process. Read more about the initiative by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/06/virtual-archaeology-initiative-submissions) in our bio. Submissions can be sent to info@asor.org.


Check out the May issue of Bulletin of ASOR 393, w
Check out the May issue of Bulletin of ASOR 393, with fascinating articles like Nabatean Tent Sites on the Ruhot Plain, Central Negev, and Nomadic Visibility; Olive Oil Production in the North-East Temple of Canaanite Lachish; Qaṭrāyīṯ and the Linguistic History of Ancient East Arabia, and much more. Read the Table of Contents by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/05/basor393-toc/) in our bio.


Friends of ASOR is pleased to share information on
Friends of ASOR is pleased to share information on BASONOVA & BAF lectures. On Tuesday, June 10 at 8pm ET via Zoom, Elizabeth Bloch-Smith (Princeton Theological Seminary) will present "Hearing the Voices of the Dead in Ancient Israel". The witch of Endor was consulted by Saul to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel. This presentation examines the Zeitgeist and theology behind Isaiah 8, where the deceased Samuel speaks to King Saul (1 Samuel 28), and alongside considers tales of the talking dead from Mesopotamia, Hatti (Hittites) and Greece. Register here: https://basonova.org/next-lecture-reservation.html



Instagram

Stay updated with the latest insights, photos, and news by following us on Instagram!

Follow Us on Instagram

American Society of Overseas Research
The James F. Strange Center
209 Commerce Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

E-mail: info@asor.org

© 2025 ASOR
All rights reserved.
Images licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Contact Us
Membership
Give
Friends of ASOR
ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives
Terms of Use
News

Please follow & like us :)
Facebook
YouTube
LinkedIn