Mezmaiskaya cave

The limestone cave contains a single chamber measuring 35 meters in length, 25 meters in width, and 10 meters in height at 1,310 meters elevation.

Excavations beginning in 1987 revealed seven Middle Paleolithic layers and three Upper Paleolithic layers, containing over 10,000 archaeological artifacts and tools.

The discovery of a complete Neanderthal infant skeleton in Layer 3 represents the youngest Neanderthal remains ever found in archaeological research.

The cave entrance transitions from several meters high to narrow passages, with the floor changing from rocky surface to clay deeper inside.

Analysis of over 6,000 mammal bones revealed the presence of steppe bison, Caucasian goats, Asiatic mouflon, and the first regional evidence of reindeer.

Location: Apsheronsky District

Elevation above the sea: 1,310 m

GPS coordinates: 44.20973,39.93568

Latest update: May 11, 2025 13:09