Archaeology in Georgia 1980-1990 (Post-Prehistoric to Pre-Mediaeval)

Author(s): D. Kacharava
Source: Archaeological Reports, No. 37 (1990 - 1991), pp. 79-86
Published by: The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/581171
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Archaeological Reports 37, 1990-91, 79-86, Printed in Great Britain
ARCHAEOLOGY IN GEORGIA 1980-1990
(Post-prehistoric
to
pre-mediaeval)
The
present
information is an
attempt
to continue the
report
published
in AR 1983-84. As distinct from that earlier one,
this
report surveys
the work done
by
the
Georgian
archae-
ological
institutions in both the western and eastern
parts
of the
Georgian Republic (Fig. 1). Large-scale investigations
of the
remains of the
post-prehistoric
to
pre-mediaeval period
were
continued in Western
Georgia (the
area of ancient
Colchis).
Sites on the Black Sea coastal line have been
intensively
studied.
The Batumi Research Institute
Expedition (directed by
A.
Kakhidze)
continued excavations of the Pichvnari
necropoleis,
though
on a small scale. Notable
among
the finds are Attic
vases of the second
quarter
of the 5th Ct. BC
(wg lekythoi
of
the Beldam Painter,
a rf
owl-skyphos).
Also of interest is a
burial with tiled
roofing,
almost
completely
robbed.
(A.
Kakhidze,
'A burial with tiled
roofing',
in Remains
of
South-
Western
Georgia, XII,
Tbilisi 1983, 53-63;
T. Sikharulidze,
'New
specimens
of Attic
painted pottery
from the Pichvnari
necropolis',
in Remains
of
South-Western
Georgia, XVII,
Tbilisi 1988,
62-71 - in
Georgian,
with summaries in
Russian).
The collection of Attic
painted pottery
found in
Pichvnari,
a
Sinopean
drachma of c. 500 BC and a bronze
jug
of the mid-
5th Ct. BC have
recently
been discussed in Remains
of
South-
Western
Georgia, XVI,
Tbilisi 1987, 44-46, 47-50, 51-108, (in
Georgian,
with Russian
summaries).
Since 1984 the Kolkheti
Archaeological Expedition
of the
Centre for
Archeological
Studies
(directed by
T.
Mikeladze)
has conducted fieldwork on the
many-layered
hill Mamuliebis
Gora,
situated on the
territory
of the
village
of
Ergeta (10km
E of the
sea).
Five cultural
layers
were identified,
the two
uppermost being
of the
period
under discussion. Both con-
tained remains of burnt-down wooden structures of
log-cabin
type.
The bulk of the
archaeological
finds is made
up
of
pottery
of local
production,
its closest
analogies
found in
abundance in the Colchian settlements of the end-6th/5th
Ct.
BC. In addition to local
pottery
Greek
amphorae
and
Egyptian
scarabaei of the same date were also found.
(Field
Archaeo-
logical
Studies in 1984-1985,
Tbilisi 1988, 39, plates
XLVI-
LII,
in
Russian).
Underwater
surveys
have been made in the
vicinity
of Poti
(seaport
-
v.
Grigoleti
-
Lake
Paliastomi) by
the
hydroarch-
aeological expedition organized by
the Centre for Archae-
ological
Studies
(directed by
G.
Gamkrelidze).
Most
important
is the settlement of the 3rd-7th Ct. AD discovered in the NW
part
of Lake Paliastomi. The settlement is identified with the
ruins of Phasis of the 3rd-7th Ct.
AD,
mentioned
by
several
Byzantine
authors.
(G. Gamkrelidze, 'Hydroarchaeological
survey
in the area of ancient
Phasis',
in The Black Sea littoral
in the 7th-5th Cts BC:
Literary
sources and
archaeology
(Problems of authenticity),
Tbilisi 1990, 215-219).
Excavations
(directed by
S.
Shamba)
at the Ochamchire
settlement,
identified with the
city
of
Gyenos (Ps-Scylax 81),
were resumed
by
the Ochamchire
Archaeological Expedition
of
the Abkhasian Institute of
Language,
Literature and
History,
of
the
Academy
of Science, Georgian Republic.
The
object
of
study
was
again
an artificial hill located in the E
part
of the
settlement. A
novelty
in the recent excavations was the
discovery
of A
pottery, including
bf Attic
vases,
Ionian banded
ware,
Chian
amphorae. (S.Shamba, Gyenos, I, Tbilisi, 1988,
in
Russian).
THE
Fig.
1
80 D. KACHARAVA
Fig.
2
Several sites were discovered both
along
the coastal line and
in the hinterland
by
the
archaeological expedition
of the Centre
for
Archaeological Studies, directed
by
M. Baramidze.
In the
village
of Pichori
(400m
N of the sea
coast)
a
settlement
embracing
12 artificial mounds was
brought
to
light,
the central one 5m
high,
its diameter
reaching
60m.
Eight
cultural
layers
were
detected,
covering
the
period
from the last
quarter
of the 3rd mill. to the 4th-3rd Ct. BC. The material
obtained is of considerable
importance
for
studying
the
architecture,
metallurgy,
and various branches of handicraft in
BA and IA Colchis. At the
nearby necropolis,
dated to the
end-7th/beginning-5th
Ct.
BC,
one collective
pit-grave
was
studied, evidently
a
secondary
burial. The
pit
was encircled
by
a
pebble
stone
'ring',
with traces of the
funerary
feast detect-
able. The Jvaralebi and
Nakargali
settlements were
uncovered 2km and 4km
respectively
to the N of the above
site. The former contained H
material,
while the latter
proved
to have been settled from the MBA
up
to the A
period
inclusively.
Excavations of the Gudava dune settlement have turned
up
three construction
periods
datable to the 8th-6th Ct. BC. A
settlement
containing
materials of the same
period
has been
discovered in the SW
part
of the
village
of
Gagilo (Gali
district). Archaeological
data
provided by
the
study
of the
Abazhu
settlement, recorded on the
territory
of the
village
of
Pirveli Gali
(Gali district), belongs
to the
H,
C and PC
periods.
A
lodging
cut in the
ground
with an area
exceeding
1000m2 is worth
noting.
It is
hypothesized
that this construc-
tion was connected with cult rites. The Shesheleti settlement
(Gali district)
has
yielded archaeological
finds of the H
period,
as well as of the 8th-7th Ct. BC.
A site of the 1st mill. BC was uncovered in the SE
part
of
the
village
of Tamishi
(Ochamchire district),
200m N of the
sea coast. The settlement
represents
a
complex
of artificial
hills connected
by
a
system
of canals. A
necropolis
on the
territory
of the
village
Balan
(Ochamchire district)
is worth
noting, though very damaged by agricultural
activities. It is
dated from the end-4th/first half of the 3rd Ct. BC.
Among
the
burials, one
containing
an
Attic-type helmet, iron
weapons
(arrowheads, spearheads, axes)
and
gold
ornaments
(bracelets,
plaques, rings, buttons)
deserves
special
attention.
An
expedition
from the Centre of
Archaeological
Studies
(directed by
G.
Lordkipanidze)
continued work at
Bichvinta,
58 km N of Sukhumi. The
R-Byz city site, brought
to
light
here
many years ago,
is identified with the
Pityus
of ancient
authors
(Strabo, XI, 2, 14; Plin., NH, VI, 16; Arrian, Periplus
Ponti
Euxini, 17; Anon. PPE, 14 and
others).
In the
period
under discussion excavation has been
largely
confined to the
necropolis
of the 2nd-4th Ct AD.
Pit-graves, amphora-graves
and burials constructed of tiles were
identified, and finds
included a silver arm-band with the
representation
of Fortuna-
Tyche (Fig. 2).
Their connection with the R
provincial
world
is attested
by
the character of the burial
goods
as well as
by
the burial ritual
(individual inhumations in extended
pose,
facing
either E or
W). The habit of
covering
burials with
concrete
layers
is
thought
to be of
practical
rather than
religious purpose.
The
archaeological explorations
of 1980-1990 also embraced
sites of the inner
part
of Colchis. The Vani
archaeological
Expedition (directed by O. Lordkipanidze)
carried out a
complex study
of the Vani
city
site
proper
and its urbanized
zone.
Field-explorations
were continued on all terraces of the
site. On the lower terrace a new trench with an area of 600m2
has been cut
along
the NE facade of the
temple
architectural
complex
of the
2nd-lst
Ct. BC which was studied in
previous
years.
In the area
immediately adjoining
the
complex,
rem-
nants of a ruined mud-brick structure were unearthed. The
continuation of the ritual ditch,
crossing
the central
building
of
ARCHAEOLOGY IN GEORGIA 1980-90 81
the
temple complex,
was traced. In the E
part
of the trench
ruins of the mud-brick wall overlaid the remnants of a tiled
roof. The ritual ditch was found to end near the
gully.
In the NE
part
of the central
terrace,
while
digging
the
remains of H structures and
drainage channels,
a sacrificial
area of the 8th-7th Ct. BC was discovered. Unearthed here
were several hundreds of broken
vessels,
fragments
of minia-
ture earthenware altars and
figurines
of various animals such
as
deer, ram, pig,
bull-calves and fantastic
creatures,
as well as
ashes and bones of cattle and
pigs.
Of
special
interest are the
terracotta
sculptural representations
of fantastic creatures: four-
footed
figures
with two heads on
opposite sides, along
with
two- and three-headed creatures
(Fig. 3). Among
the H
finds,
mention should be made of a bronze
foundry datable, judging
by
the
stratigraphic context,
to the
2nd-lst
Ct. BC.
Fig.
3
In the SW
part
of the central terrace
archaeological
excavations
have
brought
to
light
H cult
buildings belonging
to different
construction
phases.
Considered the latest are
12-step altars,
a
treasury,
and remnants of a mud-brick
building.
Sacrificial
pits
cut in the
rocky ground
and two
buildings preserved
in the
form of 'nests'
(cut
in the
rocky ground
and meant to hold the
first course of stone
masonry),
are connected with the earlier
construction
period.
Cultural
layers yielded
rich and various
H
archaeological
material such as limestone and sandstone
architectural
details,
cult
items, parts
of various cast bronze
statues,
and
pottery
sherds. A
fragment
of a Greek
inscription
constitutes one of the most
outstanding
finds. The
inscription
is believed to be a
temple legislative
document made in the 3rd
Ct. BC.
(T. Qaukhchishvili,
'A Greek
inscription
on a bronze
plaque
from
Vani',
Local
ethnopolitical
entities
of
the Black
Sea littoral in the 7th-4th Ct. BC.
(Materials of
the Fourth
Symposium
on the ancient
history of
the Black Sea
littoral),
Tbilisi
1988,
in
Russian).
In the middle of the central terrace the main
object
of
study
was a cult
complex
of the 4th-3rd Ct.
BC,
containing
a ritual
ground paved
with
pebbles,
a cult ditch cut in the
rocky
ground,
and a structure built of limestone blocks (jeweller's
workshop?).
The cultural
layer
of the 2nd-lst Ct.
BC,
dam-
aged by
medieval
burials,
was also studied.
A burial of the second half of the 4th Ct. BC was
uncovered in the E
part
of this terrace. The
grave goods
feature Colchian
clay vessels,
a bronze
phiale
and two Col-
chian triobols.
Jewellery
includes
gold
necklaces with crescent
pendants,
as well as
earrings
with miniature
sculptural repre-
sentations of birds.
Fig.
4
The most
outstanding
finds made
recently
at Vani were on the
E
slope
of the central terrace.
Resting
on the debris of
structures
destroyed
in the mid-lst Ct.
BC, a truncated life-
sized bronze statue of a
youth
was discovered
(Fig. 4).
It is
badly damaged,
with the
head, arms,
and
legs
below the knees
missing.
The torso is
tentatively
attributed to the circle of the
so-called
classicising
monuments of the H
period,
oriented to
the Severe
style (O. Lordkipanidze,
'A new find in Vani
(Preliminary report)',
Vestnik drevnei
istorii, 1989,
N
3, 178-
182).
Several
fragments
of other bronze
sculptures
were found
close
by, including
female
hands,
a knee and
gilded inlays.
Besides
these, special
attention attaches to several niches cut
82 D. KACHARAVA
in the
rocky ground
and
containing
materials of the 3rd-2nd Ct.
BC
(Colchian amphorae
and
tableware, golden beads,
frag-
ments of terracotta
statues).
To the same
period belongs
also
a
roadway paved
with sandstone slabs.
Bronze statuettes of a man (18cm
high)
and a woman
(16cm)
were unearthed in the E
part
of the
upper
terrace. Both
statuettes
lay
face down in
pits
cut in the
rocky ground. They
are decorated with
golden torques, bracelets,
earrings
and
wreaths. The finds
belong
to the 3rd Ct. BC
(D. Kacharava,
'Bronze statuettes from the ancient
city
site of
Vani', Dzeglis
Megobari, 63,
Tbilisi
1983, 33-34,
in
Georgian,
with sum-
maries in Russian and
English).
One of the novelties dis-
covered in the recent Vani excavations was a
jar-burial (i.e.
burial in a
pithos)
dated to the first half of the 3rd Ct. BC.
The Vani
archaeological expedition
also continued the
investigation
of the
surrounding
area.
According
to the
evidence
provided by archaeological
excavations on the
Sakakile hill near the
village
of Sulori
(16km
from
Vani)
there
existed a settlement in the 8th-4th Ct. BC. Worth
noting
among
the casual finds from Sulori are a Colchian bronze axe
of the 7th Ct.
BC, ornamented with
figures
of
riders,
and a
hoard of silver
coins,
consisting largely
of Colchian triobols
(Fig. 5).
For the results of the recent
archaeological
excavations at
Vani see: Vani:
Archaeological Excavations, VIII, Tbilisi,
1986
(in
Georgian,
with summaries in
Russian).
The 5th volume of
the same series is. dedicated to the local
pottery
of the 6th-4th
Ct.
BC,
while the Colchian
jewellery
and the Greek
imports
are discussed in the 6th and 7th volumes
respectively.
The
archaeological expedition
of the Centre for
Archaeological
Studies
(directed by
V.
Japaridze)
has
begun
work at Shora-
pani,
identified with
Sarapanis
- a
significant
fortress on the
eastern border of
Colchis, mentioned
by
Strabo
(Geogr. XI,3,4;
XI,11,17),
as well as
by Byzantine
authors
(Procop., BP, 12,
11,29; BG, VIII, 13,16; Menandr.
Prot.,
fr.
1; Just.,
Nov. XXX 1-
XXX
11). According
to the ancient
Georgian literary
sources
Shorapani
fortress was founded
by King Paravaz,
the first
king
of Iberia
(eastern Georgia).
The fortress
appears
to have consisted of two main
parts:
the lower
town, situated on a
promontory
at the confluence of
the Rivers Dzirula and
Qvirila,
and the
upper
citadel located on
a
rocky hilltop.
The main
object
of
study
was the medieval
fortress where cultural
layers
of the
closing
centuries BC were
uncovered,
as well as
fragments
of stone
masonry dating
to the
lst-2nd Ct. AD. Of
special
interest is the
discovery
of a
fragmentary layer containing
sherds of Colchian
pottery
dated
to the 6th-4th Ct. BC. The lower town has been
only partly
studied
archaeologically.
The earliest
layer
unearthed there
belongs
to the H
period.
In the area
occupied today by
a
moder settlement
(to
the E of the medieval
fortress)
excava-
tions revealed a Colchian site
dating
from the 6th-4th Ct. BC.
The site also
yielded
LH remains as well as those of the 4th-
6th Ct. AD and even later times.
(V. Japaridze,
'On the
archaeological study
of
Sarapanis-Shorapani', Dzeglis Mego-
bari,
N
63,
Tbilisi
1983, 49-54,
in
Georgian,
with a
summary
in
Russian; V.
Japaridze,
New archaeological data on Shora-
pani (Sarapanis)
in the
antique period,
Tbilisi
1990, in
English).
The
Georgian
State Museum of Arts renewed work in the
upper
reaches of the River
Qvirila. Archaeological explora-
tions
(directed by
J.
Nadiradze)
have shown that this
region
was
densely populated
in the 1st mill. BC.
Approximately
40
settlements have been
brought
to
light
in an area with a radius
of 80km, to the N of the town of Sachkhere. The Sairkhe
settlement is the
largest among them,
occupying
an area of
70ha. The excavations were carried out on Sabaduri hill,
Fig.
5
ARCHAEOLOGY IN GEORGIA 1980-90 83
where three cultural
layers
have been
identified,
of the
8th-7th,
6th-4th and
3rd-lst
Ct. BC. Of
particular
interest are the
remains of
workshops specializing
in ferrous and non-ferrous
metallurgy. Along
with the
city site,
burials have been found
dating
from the 5th to the turn of the 4th-3rd Ct. BC. The
burial constructions are of oak
logs,
fastened with
large
iron
nails. This
oak-log
construction has an outer
layer
of corbelled
drystone vaulting.
The burial-chambers consist of two
parts.
Together
with the main interments there are those of
servants,
as well as horses. The burial
inventory
is
quite rich, consisting
of
vessels, pottery
and
gold,
and silver ornaments
(diadems,
necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, beads, plaques).
(J.
Nadiradze,
Sairkhe - an ancient town
of Georgia,
Tbilisi
1990,
in
Georgian,
with summaries in Russian and
English).
Fig.
7
Fig.
6
An
archaeological expedition
of the State Museum of
Georgia
(directed by
E.
Gogadze)
has been
exploring
since 1982 two
synchronous (8th-6th
Ct.
BC) manufacturing
settlements of
Central Colchis. One of them is located in the
village
of
Mukhurcha
(Martvili district),
the other is in the
village
of
Ochkhomuri
(Chkhorotsque district).
Both sites have
yielded
remains of a diversified handicraft
industry,
in which the
manufacture of coloured stone beads
(comelian, agate, jasper)
proved
to be
particularly
intensive
(Fig. 6).
The cultural
layers
abound in raw materials and
waste,
as well as in stone tools
and devices for
bead-making,
and abrasive
quartz (Fig. 7).
A
large
number of billets
(semi-finished beads)
has been found
along
with
completed ones,
and bronze rods for
drilling
billets
were identified. Mass finds
point
to
large-scale
treatment of
flint.
The Ochkhomuri site shows clear traces of
metallurgical
production (bronze, iron).
Its
large-scale
character is attested
by
the
discovery
of a considerable
quantity
of bronze
ingots
and iron blooms and
fragments
of
spilled
metal. A
splendid
find from Ochkhomuri is a rich founder's hoard
consisting
of
146 bronze
items, including damaged
and worn
tools, weapons
of various
types
and
ingots.
In the eastern
part
of
Georgia (ancient Iberia)
several sites of
the
period
in
question
have been
subjected
to excavation.
Since 1975 Mtskheta and its
vicinity
have been worked on
annually.
Over the
period
1980-1990
archaeological
sites have
been found and studied at the confluence of the Rivers Mtkvari
and
Aragvi,
as well as in the Mukhrani
valley.
In the Samtavro
valley
a settlement of the 1st Ct. BC with
an area of 800m2 was excavated. Notable
among
the finds is
a
building consisting
of two
compartments,
built of mud bricks
on a stone socle. Imbrices and flat tiles constituted the
roofing
of the
building.
The Mtskheta
Expedition (directed by
V.
Nikolaishvili)
also resumed the
exploration
of the Samtavro
necropolis. Among
the finds mention should first be made of
a tomb built of sandstone
slabs, containing
two
corpses.
The
burial
inventory
included 37 coins and a
large quantity
of
silver and
gold
ornaments
(Fig. 8).
On the basis of the
inventory,
the tomb is dated to the second half of the 2nd/first
half of the 3rd Ct. AD.
Further,
the Samtavro
necropolis
yielded coins, gems,
and various items of
gold,
silver and
glass
all characteristic of the 4th Ct. BC.
In
Baiatkhevi,
situated N of
Samtavro,
a
necropolis
of the
3rd Ct. AD was
found,
the burial structures
being
of flat tiles.
In Ghartiskari
(N
of
Mtskheta),
where the N
gate
of
Mtskheta was discovered in
previous years,
the
study
of
fortifications was continued. The adobe structures of the
curtain walls and
quadrangular
towers were erected on a stone
socle.
Especially noteworthy
are the remains of an archi-
tectural
complex dug up
in the interior of the defensive
system,
consisting
of an inner
yard
and a suite of rooms
(Fig. 9).
Near Tsitsamuri
(identified
as the Seusamora of
Strabo)
a
necropolis
of the 1st Ct. BC-lst/2nd Ct. AD was
brought
to
light;
a bronze batillum and an Italic oenochoe were
among
the
finds.
......
i
W
84 D. KACHARAVA
Fig.
8
i/P2I
-
1986
Fig.
9
The Dzalisi
city
site is situated near
Mtskheta,
in the
vicinity
of the modem
village
of Dzalisi. It is identified with the town
of the same name mentioned
by Ptolemy (Geogr., III,1).
Long-standing
excavations have been conducted here
by
the
Centre for
Archaeological
Studies
expedition (directed by
A.
Bokhochadze).
In the
period
under review
emphasis
has been
on the
study
of the lower
town,
where a
palace
with an
atrium,
a
swimming pool,
a structure with
apses,
and a
peristyle palace
have been unearthed.
Occupying
an area of
2500m2,
the
palace
with the atrium consists of more than 30 halls and rooms of
various dimensions and
purposes.
It was furnished with a hot
air
heating system,
the
hypocaust
of which was uncovered. A
lavatory
of two
compartments
was
found, provided
with its
own
systems
of
sewage
and
water-supply.
The
swimming pool
(36m
x
11.5m)
is a
quadrangular
structure cut in the
ground
(Fig. 10).
The
walls,
faced with
ashlar,
are built of
pebble.
Both the
palace
with the atrium and the
swimming pool belong
to the 2nd-4th Ct. AD. The structure with
apses
is believed to
be of basilica
type.
It is dated to the 5th Ct. AD while the
peristyle palace
has been found to be one of the earliest
buildings
of the
city site,
dating
to the turn of the
pre-Christian
and Christian eras.
The material obtained has demonstrated that the communal
economy
of the site was
highly developed.
The
sewage
system,
as well as 10 water-mains have been
brought
to
light.
A considerable amount of
pottery, fragments
of
glass vessels,
tiles and bricks were found. There were also several Parthian
and Roman coins.
(A. Bokhochadze,
'New finds on the
territory
of Dzalisi
city site', Dzeglis Megobari, 1987,
N
4,
25-
30,
in
Georgian,
with a Russian
summary).
An
archaeological expedition
directed
by
S.
Margishvili
of the
Centre for
Archaeological
Studies has
begun explorations
in the
Algeti valley.
Over the
period
1980-1990 five
archaeological
sites have been discovered - four
necropoleis
and one settle-
ment. The earliest
necropolis
came to
light
near the
village
of
Enageti
(end 5th-4th Ct.
BC), revealing
17 burials -
largely
cist-type.
Notable is the
discovery
of a
glass
kohl-tube in one
of the burials
(Fig. 11).
At the
Papigora necropolis (1.5km
W
of the
village
of
Asureti)
79 burials were excavated. These
are
mostly cist-burials,
but several
pit-graves
and a
jar-burial
were also found. As a
rule,
the interments are individual
inhumations. The burial
inventory
is not
rich, consisting
of
pottery,
bronze ornaments and
beads;
silver ornaments and iron
weapons
are
extremely
rare. The
necropolis
is dated to the
4th/first half of the 3rd Ct. BC.
ARCHAEOLOGY IN GEORGIA 1980-90 85
Fig.
10
The 97 burials
dug up
at the
Shavsaqdara
I
necropolis (near
the
village
of
Shavsaqdara)
are datable to the
4th/beginning
of
the 3rd Ct. BC. The
construction-type
of
graves,
burial rites
and
composition
of
inventory
have their closest
analogies
with
relics found at the
Papigora necropolis.
Both
necropoleis
are
thought
to
belong
to the rank-and-file stratum of the
popula-
tion.
The burials found at the
Shavsaqdara
II
necropolis (700m
W of
Shavsaqdara I)
are
relatively large-sized.
The
corpses
are laid on wooden couches and horses are almost
invariably
found with them. The
inventory
consists of
gold
ornaments,
silver and bronze
vessels, glass unguentaria
and
pottery
of
excellent
quality (Fig. 12).
It is believed that we are
dealing
here with the burials of
representatives
of the local elite. The
necropolis
is dated to the turn of the 4th-3rd Ct. BC and is
connected with the settlement of the H-R
periods,
the archae-
ological
investigation
of which has
begun only recently. (N.
Tushishvili,
S.
Margishvili, 'Algeti valley archaeological
expedition
in
1983-1985', Dzeglis Megobari,
N
4, 1987, 44-47;
S.
Margishvili,
'The
Enageti necropolis', Dzeglis Megobari,
N
1, 1990, 46-51,
both in
Georgian,
with a
summary
in
Russian.)
Archaeological study
was started at a
many-layered hilltop
site
named Dedoplis Gora near the town of Kareli by an expedi-
....
tion from the State Museum of
Georgia
directed
by
Ju.
-
Gagoshidze.
It has been ascertained that the first communities
settled the site in the 5th/4th mill. BC. From this time
on,
the
Fig.
11
86 D. KACHARAVA
Fig.
12
hill was
occupied nearly continuously up
to the
EByz period.
The excavations have
largely
centred on the site of a
building
which is said to be a
palace.
An area of 700m2 has been
excavated, embracing
the W
part
of a
peristyle
inner
yard
connected with household activities. The
chronological range
of the
archaeological
material is from the
3rd/2nd Ct. BC to
the lst/2nd AD. We should mention here some
engraved
plaques
made of
antlers,
thought
to be
playing cards,
some of
which bear Aramaic
inscriptions (Fig. 13).
The
palace
was
destroyed
at the end of 1st Ct.
BC,
or somewhat
later,
and
seems to be linked with a
nearby temple complex
unearthed
between 1972 and 1982 within 3km of the hill. The
complex
is believed to be a
royal sanctuary
of the
kings
of Iberia.
Hence the above
palace may
also be
royal.
The
archaeological expedition
of the Centre for
Archaeological
Studies
(directed by
V.
Licheli)
has
recently begun
the
exploration
of two
townships.
One of them is located on the
territory
of the
moder village
of
Atsquri (Akhaltsikhe
district).
The finds attest that the site was inhabited from the
5th Ct. BC-lst Ct. AD. A rich burial of the turn of the 4th-3rd
Ct. BC contains items made of
gold, silver, bronze, cornelian
and
glass. Lastly
trial fieldwork in the
village
of Abastumani
(Adigeni district)
has uncovered material
belonging
to the 3rd-
1st Ct. BC.
D. Kacharava
Centre
for Archaeological
Studies
Tblisi, Georgia
Fig.
13