NEW DATA OF THE INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDY OF THE UNIQUE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONUMNT “TSIKHIAGORA’

Zurab Makhardze; Nino Kalandadze

Zurab Makhardze PhD. Head of Otar Lordkipanidze Institute of Archaeological Research of Georgian National Museum http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1134-2201
Nino Kalandadze PhD. Restoration-Conservation Scientific Institute of Georgian National Museum http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4931-859X

Abstract

“Tsikhiagora” is one of the significant archaeological monuments of East Georgia. It is located in Kaspi municipality, northwards from a village Kavtiskhevi. Multi-horizon monuments of Tsikhiagora reflects three millennia development of the culture, starting from Early Bronze and inclusive Antique era.

The upper, first layer of Tsikhiagora, with 8 construction horizons, is attributed to Hellenistic epoch, is dated by 3^rd -2^nd cc B.C. This layer is presented by unique cathedral complex.
There is no such good condition and comprehensively studied monument in Eastern Georgia. The 2^nd layer, of Achaemenid period is attributed to the 5^th -4^th c. B.C. It is presented in the form of remnants of cult constructions. The 3^rd layer, of Late Bronze - Early Iron period is presented by 2 construction horizons, is attributed to the second half of the 2^nd millennium B.C – first half of the 1^st millennium. It is a former settlement. The 4^th layer, of Middle Bronze period, is attributed to the first half of the 2^nd millennium and is presented by small size kurgan type tombs.

The 5^th layer of Tsikhiagora archaeological monument of the Early Bronze period is attributed to the 3^rd millennium BC and is presented by 5 construction horizons. 3 lower construction horizons are Kura–Araxes archaeological culture former residences. The upper 2 horizons unite complexes which followed early Kurgan and Bedeni cultures. This is a very rare case and is very important with the view of a problem of transition from Early Bronze to Middle Bronze epoch. Artifact remnants fixed in this layer include hand-made ceramic, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic statues, metal, stone and bone tools. The paper deals with the new X-ray Fluorescence study results of metal artifacts and with the new radiocarbon dates of Tsikhiagora settlement. Stratigraphic data from the Tsikhiagora settlement and new data allow us to assume the initial period of this cultural transformation in the first half of the 3^rd millennium BC, which is important in the study of synchronization with other cultures and the genesis of the Bedeni culture.

Key words: Kura-Araxes; Bedeni; Tsikhiagora; Archaeological Culture; radiocarbon dating.

Author Biography

Zurab Makhardze, PhD. Head of Otar Lordkipanidze Institute of Archaeological Research of Georgian National Museum

Zurab Makharadze has been supervising Otar Lortkipanidze Archaeological Research Center of the National Museum of Georgia for years. He is leading his activity in archaeology since 1979. Participated in expeditions:: Kakheti, 1980-1983, Abkhazia 1983-1985, Kaspi 1986-1991, Trialeti 1991-1994; head of Kaspi region expedition 1995-2006; head of Ananauri (Lagodekhi) expedition-2012 . Participation in international expedition: Iran (Siston province) 2001-2002; Azerbaijan, participant of French Project 2006-2009; head of Georgian-Italian Project „Inner Kartli in Eneolith –Early Bronze Period”- 2009-2011; field supervisor of Kuwait-Georgia archaeological expedition on the island Fayalaka 2011-2013. He is the author of 2 monographs and up to 50 scientific articles. From 1985 he supervises archaeological excavations of the layer of the Early Bronze Era of the monument Tsikhiagora to be studied within the frames of the present Project, and headed the research of this monument as a whole, in 1995-2002.