In June 2025, a new GACT cooperation between Tobias Lauer (University of Tübingen) and Andrew Kandel (ROCEEH Tübingen) took place at the southern Armenian site of Aghitu-3 Cave. The joint field work focused on collecting soil samples for OSL dating from two important layers, Archaeological Horizons (AH) VII and III. We know that AH III dates between 29,000 and 24,000 cal BP, and the upper portion of AH VII dates from 40,000 to 36,000 cal BP based on previous radiocarbon dates. However, the newly exposed, deepest part of AH VII remains undated, as it approaches the limit of radiocarbon dating. Layer AH VII is important because it shows the first evidence of modern human behavior in the Armenian Highlands. The lithic technology of AH VII is aimed at knapping blocky cores of obsidian in both a unidirectional and bidirectional fashion to create blades and bladelets for further use as tools. By pinpointing the age of the deepest layer, we hope to improve our understanding of when the first modern humans settled in the Armenia Highlands.
