Bolnisi Museum of Local Lore

Bolnisi Museum of Local Lore was opened in 1951. The museum houses an archaeological collection discovered in Bolnisi, dated from New Stone Age (VI-V Millennium B.C.) up to late medieval times. Among items are Neolithic objects: implements, stone sculptures, bronze axes, belts, adornments, peculiar shape household ceramic objects, antique period bird shape jug, a billion years old fossilized tree.

Besides Archaeology collections, the museum's exhibition includes rich collection of architectural and ethnographic items.

The architecture is presented with medieval stone fragments of church exterior facades and interiors found in the area, details of stelae, carved stone crosses and many more. Ethnography showcases few impressive exhibits. Historical and literary materials are given in the form of books and photographs, and art is displayed by paintings.

Some of the highlights of Bolnisi Museum collection are: Bronze Age handicrafts, jewelry, stone implements of first hominins, belts, pottery, adornments, peculiar shape household ceramic objects, ancient metallurgy and stone inscriptions, a billion years old fossilized tree, copies of ancient Georgian round inscriptions on Bolnisi Sioni (5th c.), the jubilee (1500) edition of the Hagiographer Iakob Tsurtaveli's "Torture of Shushaniki" printed and translated in 5 languages, the tombstone of John Bolneli with Asomtavruli (Mrgvlovani-Round script) epitaph (12th c), 17th c Ecclesiastes, The Knight in Tigerskin by Shota Rustaveli-published in 1712, etc. Branch: Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani Literature Museum in Tandzia village, Georgia.

Located in the city that bears the legacy of Eneolithic settlement, the museum is a major addition to the locality, which has seen a tribute to its original inhabitants 8000 years ago.

Address: #95 Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani Str., Bolnisi, Bolnisi Municipality
Working hours: Every day, except Monday, 10:00 – 18:00
Ticket price: Adults – 1 GEL. Schoolchildren and students – 0.50 GEL,
Free admission: Children up to the age of 6; Georgian and Foreign Museum staff, ICOM members (cardholders with ID), people with disabilities (upon presentation of valid ID), refugees.

To book private tour from Tbilisi, please, check detailed itinerary below or contact travel expert here.

• Dmanisi, Bolnisi & Tsugrugasheni private day trip from Tbilisi