Akhshtyrskaya Cave

Akhshtyrskaya Cave is a limestone cave set into the mountain above the Mzymta River, extending far underground and containing multiple spacious chambers. The site has been made accessible to visitors and displays the geological and archaeological layers that reveal its long history.

The cave was discovered in 1903 by French scientist Edouard Alfred Martel, bringing scientific attention to the site. Systematic investigations beginning in 1936 under Sergei Zamyatin revealed traces of different human cultures spanning many distinct time periods.

The site carries the name of a nearby village and visitors experience it as a place where human history is physically visible in the rock walls. The exposed layers and artifacts tell stories of communities that lived here across many millennia.

The cave can only be visited with a guide since unaccompanied entry is not permitted. Metal ladders and lighting systems help visitors navigate safely through the chambers.

Over time the cave accumulated bones from extinct animals like cave bears, deer, and bison that remain visible in the layers today. This collection offers a rare glimpse into the animal life of this region from thousands of years ago.