UPPER MACHAKHELI (SOME ASPECTS OF ETHNOLOGICAL-DIALECTOLOGICAL STUDY)

Abstract

Due to historical fate, a significant part of South-West Georgia is part of Turkey. Among them is the upper jaw. Historically, Upper Machakheli played an important role in the socio-economic, political, and cultural life of South-West Georgia. For centuries, the corner was included in the Diocese of Tbeti and represented the advanced side of Klarjeti, which is evidenced by the historical-ethnographic existence of the valley, the monuments of material culture preserved in the form of remains, the Georgian speech that has been formed over the centuries and has reached the present day, the still-saved Georgian spirit, national consciousness.

Upper Machakheli is an interesting side from the ethnographic and dialectological point of view. As it is known, until the last period it was impossible to enter the upper Machakheli, which deepened the interest of travelers-researchers and scientists in the historical valley.

Upper Machakheli is still affected by foreign customs, traditions, and language. Despite this reality, the population still maintained its national identity. The purpose of the study is to study some aspects of the ethnological-dialectological peculiarities of Upper Machakheli. When discussing the lifestyle, culture and dialect features of Upper Machakheli, we mainly rely on the materials obtained as a result of the field expedition conducted by us in the villages of Upper Machakheli (Khertvisi, Akria, Mindieti, Efrat Zedvake,Qvabitavi) in 2010-2015.

Keywords: Upper Machakheli; History; ethnology; dialectology; existence and culture; traditions.