Tsutskhvati Caves

To the south of the village of Tsutskhveti, in the canyon of the Shabatgele River, 13 caves are located in a tiered order on a cliff about 150 m high. Tsutshvati Caves are the oldest and most multi–storied caves in the world. The distance up from the river level to the highest cave is 60-70 m.

Primitive man lived in only 5 caves of this complex. A Middle Paleolithic man lived in the Bronze, Bear, Bison, Double Ear and upper caves. In the cave most illuminated by the sun (this cave is located away from the rest of the caves), there are traces of Upper Paleolithic human habitation.

The caves got their names based on certain indicators. For example, objects from the Bronze Age were discovered in the Bronze Cave, bones of a bison skeleton were found in the Bison Cave during excavations, and bones of a cave bear were found in the Bear Cave.

The Tsutsvati cave complex has an elongated shape. The Shabatgele River and its tributaries merge after passing through the bottom of the cave and flow through the youngest cave, which is located under the rest of the caves and is 20-25 meters high and 10-12 meters wide. After passing through the caves, the Shabatgele River continues to flow under the name Chishura, and near the village of Ajameti it merges with the Kvirila River.

There is a yew grove in the village of Tsutsvati, as well as mineral water springs.

Location:
South of the village of Tsutsvati, Tkibul municipality, Okriba-Argveti ridge; at an altitude of 360 m above sea level. Coordinates:
N42 16'24»; Е42 51'16''
How to get:
The distance from Tbilisi is 255 km, from Tkibuli – 30 km, from Kutaisi – 25 km.