"%&$#!", Mashavera Gorge, Republic of Georgia

Photographs taken in June and July 2004

Sometimes, in the field, things go wrong.

It seems (based on my own observations) that the typical field-research vehicles in the Georgian Republic are left over Soviet jeeps: rugged, old school, and 100% awesome.

Cushioning? That's for wimps.
Roll down windows? Yeah right.
Power steering? What are muscles for?
Power anything? Sorry, too fancy.
Seat belts? Why are you even wondering this?

These bad boys can drive on, through, around, or up any terrain.

Or so we thought.

One feverishly hot afternoon, in the midst of working at the MG#4 Middle Paleolithic site in the Georgian Republic (PI Daniel Adler), Dan, our driver Irakli (pictured right), and I decided to take a much needed break. Driving off-road around the Mashavera Gorge, we soon came to a seemingly 'wussy' stream.

Never underestimate soft muds: frustration often results. After a long while and numerous failed attempts to free ourselves, another jeep fortuitously drove by. Tying the two vehicles together, our jeep-driving compatriots managed to pull out from the river our sweet (and sinking) ride...

...though not before it flooded.