Otar Japaridze, doctor of philosophy in history, professor, academician of the Georgian Academy of Sciences, was born in Tbilisi on September 16, 1921. In 1943 Otar Japaridze successfully graduated from the Faculty of History of the Tbilisi State University and enrolled in the postgraduate program during the same year. Simultaneously, in 1944, he started working as a senior research fellow at the Georgian State Museum of History where he worked until 1950. During this period, in 1948, he managed to defend the candidate dissertation.
In 1950-1952, O. Japaridze served as a senior research fellow at the Department of Archeology of the Ivane Javakhishvili Institute of History. Since 1952 Japaridze has been working at the Tbilisi State University. At various times, he served as an assistant at the Department of Archeology and Ethnography, as well as a senior teacher. In 1962, he defended the doctoral dissertation.
In 1964, Otar Japaridze was granted a scientific title of professor. In 1967, he was appointed the Head of the Department of Archeology and Ethnography. Next year, as a result of separation of the archeological and ethnographic divisions, Otar Japaridze became the Head of Archeological Department and remained in the office for almost three decades. Since 1977, Otar Japaridze has been a professor at the Ethnographic Department.
In 1979, O. Japaridze was elected a corresponding member of the Georgian Academy of Sciences and in 1993 – a full member.
Otar Japaridze had been performing the duties of the Rector of the Tbilisi State University from September 13, 1991 to October 15, 1991. He resigned upon his own decision. Otar Japaridze is one of the leading archeologists whose publications are internationally recognized. He made a great contribution to the study of Georgian tribes at the early stage of steel industry, and ethnogenesis of Georgian people. He is the author of over 120 scientific works; Otar Japaridze was the first Scientist to receive the Ivane Javakhishvili Prize in 1969 for his research essay ‘Archeological Excavations in Trialeti’.
In 1950-1952, O. Japaridze served as a senior research fellow at the Department of Archeology of the Ivane Javakhishvili Institute of History. Since 1952 Japaridze has been working at the Tbilisi State University. At various times, he served as an assistant at the Department of Archeology and Ethnography, as well as a senior teacher. In 1962, he defended the doctoral dissertation.
In 1964, Otar Japaridze was granted a scientific title of professor. In 1967, he was appointed the Head of the Department of Archeology and Ethnography. Next year, as a result of separation of the archeological and ethnographic divisions, Otar Japaridze became the Head of Archeological Department and remained in the office for almost three decades. Since 1977, Otar Japaridze has been a professor at the Ethnographic Department.
In 1979, O. Japaridze was elected a corresponding member of the Georgian Academy of Sciences and in 1993 – a full member.
Otar Japaridze had been performing the duties of the Rector of the Tbilisi State University from September 13, 1991 to October 15, 1991. He resigned upon his own decision. Otar Japaridze is one of the leading archeologists whose publications are internationally recognized. He made a great contribution to the study of Georgian tribes at the early stage of steel industry, and ethnogenesis of Georgian people. He is the author of over 120 scientific works; Otar Japaridze was the first Scientist to receive the Ivane Javakhishvili Prize in 1969 for his research essay ‘Archeological Excavations in Trialeti’.