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Tbilisi, Georgia
Programme
HYPOGEA TBILISI 2026
Preliminary Scientific Programme
Five days of scientific exchange, field research and international collaboration dedicated to speleology in artificial cavities.
Day 01 Tuesday, 22 September 2026
08:30–10:00
Registration
10:00–12:00
Opening Ceremony
UNDERGROUND AND ROCKY CIVIL SETTLEMENT WORKS
12:00–12:20
Architecture of the Void: The Settlement Complex of the Hypogea in the Pontrelli Locality
12:20–12:40
The Rock-Cut Village of Nicosia
12:40–13:00
Historical Anthropic Hypogean Caves of the Volcanic Area of Goris
(Syunik Marz, Armenia)
13:00–13:20
A Comparative Study of Plant-Derived Food Preparation and the Food
Storage in Ancient Armenian Subterranean Settlements
13:20–13:40
Vulnerability and Heritage Issues of Loess Dwellings in North China
RELIGIOUS AND CULT WORKS
13:40–14:00
Two Important Rock-Cut Monuments in Historical Tao-Klarjeti
14:00–15:00
Lunch
15:00–15:20
The Architectural Structure of the Medieval Cave Monasteries of
David Gareji within the Framework of Byzantine and Eastern
Christian Monasticism
15:20–15:40
New Materials for the Study of the Gareji Monasteries
15:40–16:00
Utilities for Rainwater Harvesting in the Laura of St. David, and
Rock-Cut Furnishings in the Udabno Monastery of Davitgareji
Wilderness, Georgia
16:00–16:20
Burials and their Paintings in the Gareja Monastic Association:
The Tomb of Saint Dodo Garejeli
16:30–17:00
Coffee Break
17:00–17:20
Interpretation of Ornamental Motifs on the Stone Cross Pillar of
John the Baptist from David Gareji (6th-7th Centuries)
17:20–17:40
Caves in the Armenian Belief System: The Case of St. Gregory the
Illuminator's Cave in Sarnaghbyur
17:40–18:00
The Caves of Geghard Gorge: from a Pagan Sanctuary to a Monastic Complex
18:00–18:20
Once More on the Function of Uplistsikhe Iwan Complexes
Day 02 Wednesday, 23 September 2026
09:00–10:00
Registration
10:00–10:20
Architectural Characteristics and Spatial Organisation of the
Medieval Rock-Cut Cave Monastery of Krepcha (Bulgaria)
10:20–10:40
Rock Cut Monastery from the 10th Century in “Voden-Iri Hisar”
State Hunting Area, Razgrad District, NE Bulgaria
10:40–11:00
Sant'Angelo in Criptis Cave (Santeramo in Colle, Bari, Italy):
Cult and Nature. Knowledge, Conservation Protocol and Heritage Value
11:00–11:30
Coffee Break
11:30–11:50
Artificial Cavities Within the Kura River: From Turkey to Georgia
11:50–12:10
Cave Complex of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Ust-Medveditsky Monastery
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH OF THE ARTIFICIAL CAVITIES
12:10–12:30
Newly Discovered Medieval Rock-Cut Complex of Ohanavan
12:30–12:50
Rock-Cut Funerary Complexes of Armenia: Problems of Definition,
Chronology and Function
12:50–13:10
The Unusual Tiny Grave in the Church Göreme 31 (Cappadocia)
13:10–13:30
From Funerary Monument to Industrial Space: The “Lions’ Tomb” at Horvat Burgin
13:30–13:50
Subterranean Hiding Complexes as a Jewish Defensive Strategy During
the Three Revolts Against Rome in the Galilee
13:50–14:10
The Cremation Urn Discovered in the Samshvilde Cave No.2 and its
Similarities in Anatolia
14:10–14:30
Details of the Natlismtsemeli Monastery in Gareji Based on the Study
of a Single Burial
14:30–15:30
Lunch
15:30–15:50
Filling the Gaps on the Cliff: Constructive Strategies in the
Vertical Chachapoya Necropolises of Diablo Wasi and La Petaca
(Amazonas, Peru)
15:50–16:10
Between Archaeology and Speleology: Exploration and Survey of a
Medieval Well-Cistern in Peschiera del Garda (Verona, Italy)
16:10–16:30
Cave Monasticism in Southern Georgia: Archaeological Insights from
Kazreti Ortvala Cave
16:30–16:50
Rock Structures of Chivchavi: Based on Archaeological Survey Data
(Kvemo Kartli, Georgia)
IN MEMORIAM
16:50–17:00
Twenty Years Without Vittorio Castellani (1937-2006), one of the
Fathers of Speleology in Artificial Cavities in Italy and the World
(poster presentation)
17:00–17:30
Coffee Break
ANCIENT HYDRAULIC WORKS
17:30–17:50
Bridging Different Technologies to Survey a Culverted Stream in a
Historical Centre of Great Cultural Value
(Genoa World Heritage Site, Italy)
17:50–18:10
Discovery and Documentation of the Water Supply System of Ayvat
18:10–18:30
The Hydraulic Systems of the Hrazdan River Gorge
18:30–18:50
Water Cisterns of Some Monastic Communities in Mount Athos,
Halkidiki, Greece
Day 03 Thursday, 24 September 2026
FIELD EXCURSION
09:00–18:30
Excursion to Uplistsikhe — full-day field trip
Day 04 Friday, 25 September 2026
09:00–10:00
Registration
MINING/EXTRACTION WORKS
10:00–10:20
The “Sulphur” Museum of Perticara (Italy): A Paradigm Shift from
Passive Industrial Repository to Active Interdisciplinary Research Hub
10:20–10:40
History of Underground Quarries at Cutrofiano
(Apulia, Southern Italy) and Related Hazards
10:40–11:00
Revisiting the Dating of the Huk Mine — a Previously Unknown Mine
in Odesa City
11:00–11:30
Coffee Break
11:30–11:50
The Rock-Hewn Hypogea with Vertical Bell-Shaped Excavations and
Constructed Vaults, in the Area of the Eighteenth-Century Quarries
of Matera (Southern Italy)
11:50–12:10
Survey and Mineralogical Study of the Mine Gallery from Grădina
Zmeilor (Sălaj County, Romania)
MILITARY AND DEFENSIVE ARTIFICIAL CAVITIES
12:10–12:30
Underground Çakmak Defence Line from Çatalca, Istanbul
12:30–12:50
Underground Military Objects in Serbia
NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR ANALYZING AND DOCUMENTING THE ARTIFICIAL CAVITIES
12:50–13:10
Integrated Multi-Sensor Geomatic Approaches for the Documentation
and Monitoring of Georgian Rock-Cut Heritage
13:10–13:30
Geomechanical Analysis and Stability Assessment of Phrygian Temples
and Troglodyte Spaces, Anatolia, Turkey
13:30–13:50
Some Examples of Experimental Diagnostics and Conservation
Assessments for Planning the Maintenance and Promotion of Rock Art
in the Hypogeal Churches of the Apulia Murgia (Southern Italy)
13:50–14:10
Knowledge as the Foundation of the Restoration Project:
The San Marco Ravine in Massafra (Southern Italy)
14:10–14:30
Losing the Past: Maps and Inventories of Cappadocia (Turkey)
14:30–15:30
Lunch
CATEGORIES AND TYPES OF ARTIFICIAL CAVITIES: UPDATES
15:30–15:50
History, Architecture and Socio-Economical Features of Artificial
Cavities in the Southern Apennines Hydrographic District (Italy)
15:50–16:10
Cavities in the Late Oligocene — Miocene Deposits of NW Romania.
First Update
16:10–16:30
Susceptibility to Sinkholes Caused by Artificial Cavities in
Continental Southern Italy
16:30–16:50
The Sculpture Cave of Dénezé sous-Doué (Maine-et-Loire / France):
First Analysis of Sculptures Detached from the Walls
16:50–17:30
Congress Concluding Round Table
17:30–18:00
Coffee Break
18:00–19:00
Closing Ceremony
Day 05 Saturday, 26 September 2026
FIELD EXCURSION
09:00–15:00
Excursion to the David Gareji (Lavra)
19:00–23:00
Congress Dinner
