A historic discovery made during excavations in the village of Orozmani, near the famous Dmanisi archaeological site — one of the key centers of the prehistoric era — has added new insights to the study of early human history. A growing body of artifacts and recent findings increasingly suggest that the territory of modern-day Georgia may have been one of the cradles of ancient civilization, and that the Caucasus served as an important migration corridor for early human ancestors leaving Africa.
Researchers from Nazarbayev University (NU) — the No. 1 English-language university in Central Asia and the Caucasus according to the prestigious Times Higher Education rankings — took part in the expedition and discovered a lower jawbone belonging to a Homo erectus hominin, estimated to be approximately 1.8 million years old. This unique find further confirms the importance of Orozmani as one of the key sites for studying early human presence in Eurasia.
The expedition team included Professor Reed Coil, Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and Gulnur Muratova, a master’s student in the MA in Eurasian Studies program. Field research of this kind is an integral part of the educational experience at Nazarbayev University, which actively cultivates an environment where young scholars can apply theory in practice and contribute to discoveries of global significance.
During a meeting with the director of the National Museum of Georgia and representatives of the embassy, Professor Reed Coil emphasized the importance of the Georgian findings:
“This discovery represents an important step toward understanding the deep history of humanity in this region. It highlights the value of international scientific cooperation, within which Kazakhstan’s contribution helps uncover new facts about our shared past.”
Expanding educational opportunities allows students to delve deeper into the study of ancient cultures. This year, Nazarbayev University launched a joint master’s program in Global Relations and Eurasian Studies with SOAS University of London, one of the world’s leading centers of Oriental studies. Students spend six months in the UK and six months in Kazakhstan’s capital, earning two degrees upon completion. These programs expand access to fieldwork, cross-cultural studies, and international research projects such as the excavations in Georgia.
The geography of such opportunities continues to grow. Nazarbayev University students can now enroll in another unique program — a dual-degree BBA in Eurasian Business developed jointly with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Students spend their first two years in Astana and the last two in Hong Kong, gaining experience across two campuses and receiving diplomas from both universities. This opens pathways to careers in major international corporations.
The high level of NU graduates’ preparation is reflected in the numbers: the employment rate stands at 98%. Every fifth graduate goes on to study at top global universities — Cambridge, Oxford, Stanford, MIT, Harvard, ETH Zurich — while others build careers at leading global tech companies such as Google, Amazon, Apple, and Meta, in the Big Four, and in major financial institutions including Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan.
Orozmani has long attracted the attention of archaeologists: in 2022, a hominin tooth from the same period was discovered there. The recent find of a lower jaw, however, allows for a far more precise reconstruction of the anatomy and lifestyle of early Homo erectus. For modern science, this is not just an artifact but a key to understanding evolutionary diversity and early human migration patterns.
Nazarbayev University continues to strengthen international cooperation and welcomes students from around the world, including Georgia. Applicants can already submit their documents, and special “Abay” scholarships for Georgian students cover both tuition and a stipend. Prospective students can learn more about NU programs at educational fairs held in various countries, including Georgia.
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