About David Berikashvili

Dr. David Berikashvili, Ph.D., is a Professor at the School of Art and Humanities at The University of Georgia. He serves as Head of the Archaeology Department and Director of the Samshvilde Archaeological Project. His scholarly work centers on the archaeology of the Caucasus and the Near East, with particular emphasis on intercultural connections between the Caucasian and Iranian worlds.

Academic Background & Career

2004: Graduated from Tbilisi State University
2004–2006: Senior Scientist, Georgian National Museum, Tbilisi
2006: Earned Ph.D. after defending the dissertation “The Early and Middle Bronze Age Settlements and Cemeteries from West Georgia (South Caucasus)”
International Projects: Participated in collaborative research led by the Georgian National Museum, the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut (DAI), and Harvard University’s Peabody Museum across western and eastern Georgia
Since 2006: Associate Professor (later Professor), University of Georgia; Director of the Samshvilde Archaeological Projects
Since 2012: Leads archaeological excavations at Samshvilde and supervises Georgian student fieldwork in Iran’s Fars region at the Persepolis World Heritage Site.

Research & Publications

Dr. Berikashvili’s research focuses on long-term cultural processes and regional interactions, including:

Early and Middle Bronze Age archaeology of the South Caucasus
Medieval Caucasus and the Near East
Caucasian–Iranian cultural and historical relationships
Settlement patterns, cemeteries, and material culture

Education & Expertise

Ph.D., Archaeology, Tbilisi State University
Expertise in Caucasian and Near Eastern archaeology, field excavation management, and international research collaboration.

Professional Identifiers & Links

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3877-3758
Personal / Academic Profile: https://ug.edu.ge/en/persons/full/897

Contact Information

Email: davidberikashvili8@gmail.com
Institutional Address: University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia