Stability analysis of a large-volume block in the historical rock-cut city of Vardzia (Georgia)
The historical rock-cut city of Vardzia is a cave monastery site in South-western Georgia, excavated from the tuffaceous layers of the Erusheti mountain. Due to its morphology, the archaeological site is continuously affected by rock instabilities. These pose serious constrains to future conservation, as well as to the safety of tourists. In order to improve knowledge about slope stability issues in the Vardzia site and to develop a proper site specific approach, the present research focuses on the conditions of one of the largest potentially unstable rock-block.