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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Fieldwork at Kiik Kamar Cave has come to an end for this season (2026). The trench has been carefully documented, sampled and backfilled to protect the site until we return. Now the research continues in the lab and we're already moving to another cave. Stay tuned! #CaveArchaeology #INASIA_ERC

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Field update! After several weeks of excavation, our team has reached the first cultural layer within the Pleistocene sequence. Beneath deposits from the Last Glacial Maximum, we're uncovering the first stone artefacts, animal bones, charcoal and a wonderful scraper tool.

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

🇺🇿🇵🇱INASIA team member Gairat Muhtarov spent a month at INGPAN in Warsaw training in soil micromorphology. With Dr. Greta Brancaleoni, he impregnated samples from Kiik Kamar & Darvazalik Caves and learned thin-section basics with technician Krzysztof Jasiński. 🔬⛰️⛏️

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

🇺🇿🥾⛰️Finding a cave with Pleistocene layers in the mountains of Uzbekistan is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Only one or two out of ten caves preserve the layers we are looking for. Kiik Kamar turned out to be one of them. We are back in the field. Season 2026 be kind to us!

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

🌎📢Join #INQUA2027 Session S_021 "Human–environment interactions and socio-ecological trajectories during the Quaternary from the Mediterranean basin to Central Asia" 📢⏰submit your abstract by 15 Feb 2025 🗓️28 Jan–3 Feb 2027 📍Lucknow, India inquaindia2027.in/s-021

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Two more weeks for sending the applications in one of the vacancies in the ERC funded INASIA project. Check who we are looking for and join the team: inasia.uw.edu.pl/we-are-hirin...

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

We're looking for researchers to join the INASIA project. If you're an archaeologist specializing in Stone Age research adept in advanced digital, geospatial, and analytical methods, you may want to join us as ERC-POSTDOC-FIELD: www.euraxess.pl/jobs/383000

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Reposted by INASIA_ERC

Małgorzata Kot @malgorzatakot.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

4-year postdoc position in INASIA ERC project for a lithic specialist who would like to join our Central Asian research group at @UniWarszawski with her/his expertise in lithic technology studies. Application deadline 30.11.2025. Find out more here: inasia.uw.edu.pl/we-are-hirin...

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

ERC-Postdoc-ECO We're looking for a detail-oriented researcher specializing in geochemical and biochemical analyses of sediments and artefacts. Check this and other open positions in the INASIA project at: inasia.uw.edu.pl/we-are-hirin... And join us for an info session: forms.gle/s6WxXdnZKUxr...

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

One position for a PhD student open in the ERC INASIA project. If you're an early-career archaeologist who'd like to specialize in lithic raw material studies in Central Asia, this job may be right for you! Check the details: euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/382457

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

ERC Postdoc FIELDWORK is another vacancy in the INASIA project. Learn more about the position and apply here: inasia.uw.edu.pl/we-are-hirin... If you're thinking of applying join us for an online info session on the 14th of November 2025 Register: forms.gle/gPgfWJ1A1SXw...

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Are you an archeologist with experience in surface or excavation research at Middle Palaeolithic sites? This position may be for you: ERC Postdoc ARCHEO - one of our vacancies in the INASIA project. Learn about the role and join our team starting March 1st 2026! inasia.uw.edu.pl/we-are-hirin...

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

We are hiring! Five open positions for researchers in the INASIA project. We are looking for 4 postdocs and a doctoral candidate to join our team starting March 2026. Check out the details at: inasia.uw.edu.pl/we-are-hirin... We'll be holding an info session soon, stay tuned and spread the word!

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

On 7th & 8th October INASIA project team members met for two intensive days at Warsaw University to strategize and plan project's activities following the feedback from the 1st excavation season. Meet the team: inasia.uw.edu.pl/team/

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

As part of the INASIA project an iterdisciplinary laboratory for archeological analyses will be set up in Tashkent. Read more about this huge endeavor in the account from the project inauguration featuring the official signing of the lab agreement: inasia.uw.edu.pl/setting-up-a... fot. Miron Bogacki

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Check out the photo summary of the August 2025 expedition to Uzbekistan by the ERC INASIA team: 1) inasia.uw.edu.pl/start-of-the... 2) inasia.uw.edu.pl/darvazalik-c... 3) inasia.uw.edu.pl/most-remote-... 4) inasia.uw.edu.pl/uzbekhydroge... 5) inasia.uw.edu.pl/darvazalik-c...

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

Learn more about the INASIA project on its website: inasia.uw.edu.pl There: - a list of palaeolithic sites in Central Asia, - project publications, - communication & dissemination activities, - bios of the project team, - all project related news in the form of blog entries.

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

To get to Pleistocene layers,we always need to go through the Holocene ones. Would be a pity not to use such an opportunity. Within the project we also study the Holocene traces of human occupation in Central Asia caves. #Archaeology #ERC #HumanHistory #CentralAsia #CaveArchaeology #Fieldwork

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

To find new sites we use three approaches. One of them is searching through published speleological and archaeological reports. It’s not an easy task to geolocalize caves based on very general descriptions. It can be a lot of fun though.

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Another approach to discover new cave sites is analyzing social media, blogs, vlogs, and photo galleries shared by local hikers. These often feature undocumented caves. If we can geolocate the photo — sometimes a challenge — we pack our gear and investigate on site. #ERC_research #ERC #HorizonEurope

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

And here the day comes one needs to close the trench. Let's hope we find the spot intact the next season. Kiik Kamar- we will definitely keep on coming back here! #erc #horizoneurope #universityofwarsaw #uniwersytetwarszawski #archeology

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

When you uncover new archaeological horizons with bones, combustion structures and MP blades the only thing you can do is… dance! #ERCResearch #HorizonEU #ERC #Archaeology #Uzbekistan #HumanHistory #InterdisciplinaryResearch #Fieldwork

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

The crucial element in cave archaeology is wet sieving and flotation of sediments. Check our story of each and every bucket of sediment excavated in the cave. Down the rope, on the donkeys, then by a UAZ car, through the sieves up to the lab for sorting. video by @hermano music by RoyaltyFreeMusic

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

We’ve conducted a raw material survey walking along riverbeds and searching for suitable knapping raw material. Guess what can happen when the only available raw material is quarzite? And all the surriounding rocks are made of quarzite and granite. Analyses of these will be a great challenge. #erc

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Visited Sipantash - one of Uzbekistan’s rare painted rock art sites. ~800 stencils, geometrics, animals, solar signs under stunning stone formations. Once sacred: rituals, sacrifices, even a fertility slide for pregnant women. Ancient magic meets wild geology. What a place!

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Each bag of sediment gets an inventory no. and is slid down a rope. Two donkeys carry bags further to the UAZ car. The car brings them to the wet-sieving and flotation station. This is the very first fieldwork in UZBK with a complete wet sieving of excavated sediments - c. 50-100 bags of 10-12/day.

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

INASIA_ERC project led by @malgorzatakot.bsky.social June 2025 expedition - The Kiik Kamar cave excavations in Uzbekistan videos by @hermano music by FreeGroove via Pixabay #ERC #archeology #research #HorizonEurope

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

We've started the excavations. The topmost layers consist of thick fumier. We're openning bigger suface in order to avoid contamination of recent charcoals in Pleistocene sediments. #ERC #archeology #research #HorizonEurope

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

This season we excavate Kiik Kamar Cava in south-eastern Uzbekistan. It is circa 100sqm single chamber cave with a big triangular entrance heading west. photos by @hermano #erc #ExcellentScience #HorizonEurope #ArcheologicalResearch

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Fieldwork - Day 3 Basecamp Due to unbelievable hospitality of Uzbek people in Kashkadarya our team had the oportunity to set up a basecamp in a nice private garden. A little bit more work and the basecamp with a mobile lab is ready. video by @hermano #expedition #ERC #archeology #excavations

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Reposted by INASIA_ERC

Zandra Fagernäs @zandraselina.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

For the last couple of weeks, I've had the honor to join an excavation in Uzbekistan with @malgorzatakot.bsky.social through her @inasia-erc.bsky.social project. Two weeks full of joy. So many wonderful adventures, friendships and memories for life gained!

Me walking our donkey friend, who we called Appa, to transport sediment bags downhill. I miss him already, such a sweet donkey!

Somehow, Sebastian, the documentary maker who joined us, managed to take a very nice photo of me looking happy. Or maybe it's just that excavating makes me this happy all the time?

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

To find new sites we use three approaches: 1. We interview local people. Shepherds, beekeepers, hunters, forest officers. They know the mountains better than anyone else and their hospitability and kindness towards our research team is absolutely remarkable. #erc #horizoneurope #archeology

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

INASIA #ERC supporting the local community We put special emphasis on involving locals in the project. A family-friendly approach means anyone can work with us & join fieldwork with their family, e.g. our cook Gulya is here with her daugter. A month in the mountains with no family separation.

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

ERC_INASIA aims at understanding the origin of local blade industries similar to IUP but dated there to MIS4. To find more, check: doi.org/10.1080/01977261.2024.2319429 #erc #research #innovative_research #HorizonEurope

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

It's always good to have a rope with you! The magnificent plan of reaching the cave in 1 day with 4 cars failed miserably as one of our UAZes broke down. Luckily, we managed to find a good car mechanic, and a few hours later, we were finally good to go to the Zaravshan Range to reach the cave.

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

We're kicking off the 2025 INASIA fieldwork season! 🛠️ From 04/06, we set off to excavate the newly discovered Middle Palaeolithic cave site with confirmed preservation of charcoals and bones. 22 team members incl. scientists, students & volunteers. Wish us luck at Kiik Kamar! #INASIA

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

ERC_INASIA is the first high-mountain archaeological project in Uzbekistan. For the very first time, our research team will reach unstudied caves in order to collect data for multiproxy analyses. #HorizonEU #EUResearch #ERC

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

INASIA_ERC is five years of intensive survey and fieldwork in mountain caves in remote areas of Tien Shan and Pamir-Alay. @malgorzatakot.bsky.social #inasia_erc #ERC #UniversityofWarsaw #Uzbekistan #HorizonEU #EUResearch

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

On the 26th April, our PI, Małgorzata Kot (@malgorzatakot.bsky.social), took part in the #SAA 90th Annual Meeting in Denver to present the preliminary results of the pilot studies and the main idea behind the INASIA project. #ERC @MichalLeloch, @GayratkhonMukhtarov, @MarcinPrzybyła, @JanLedwoń

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Our PI, Małgorzata Kot, talks about the main concept behind the INASIA project in the Uniwersytet Warszawski video: lnkd.in/dcpXFTHM

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INASIA_ERC @inasia-erc.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

⛏️ 3 years of pilot studies 🔦16 Central Asian caves ⛰️10 test trenches 🧗🏾‍♂️200km of high mountain treks through Tian Shan and Pamir-Alay ... and here we start our outstanding scientific journey with the ERC Consolidator Grant @erc.europa.eu INASIA housed at @UniversityofWarsaw

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