From September 14 to 18, 2026, Professor Besik Lortkipanidze and Associate Professor Nikoloz Murghulia of the School of Humanities and Liberal Arts at Georgian American University (GAU) participated in the Eighth International Congress on Black Sea Antiquities, held at the University of Warsaw.

The Congress was dedicated to the memory of Gocha R. Tsetskhladze and focused on the theme “General Trends and Local Traditions in the Black Sea Area (7th c BC–5th/6th c AD).”

On September 17, the GAU professors presented a research paper titled “An Ostrogothic-Type Buckle from Nokalakevi-Archaeopolis (West Georgia) as Evidence for Ethnic Diversity in the Byzantine Army of Lazica.” The presentation generated significant interest among the Congress participants.

As part of the Congress, the GAU representatives also held professional meetings with colleagues from Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Turkey, and France.

The Congress brought together historians and archaeologists from Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Belgium, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and China, who presented their research through academic papers and poster presentations.

In addition, on September 15, at the invitation of the Congress Organizing Committee, Associate Professor Nikoloz Murghulia moderated one of the academic sessions.