FOR THE STUDY OF METALLURGICAL CENTRES OF KVEMO KARTLI

Abstract

Kvemo Kartli, Georgia's south-eastern region, is home to archaeological sites from all ages reflecting humanity's origins and evolution, from the Lower Palaeolithic to the late Middle Ages. Among the monuments identified here, archaeological objects and finds associated with metallurgical manufacturing are particularly noteworthy.

Kvemo Kartli is distinguished by its mineral resources, which, among other things, has played an essential role in the region's extensive exploitation since antiquity. The abundance of copper and iron minerals and the presence of a fuel forest offered ideal conditions for the creation and development of metallurgy.

This article aims to introduce archaeological material discovered in Kvemo Kartli, historical Gardabani province, to specialists and a broad range of readers interested in the topic, an important source for studying the region's pre-antique metallurgical production.

The archaeological surface surveys were conducted by Otar Lordkipanidze Archaeological Research Institute of the Georgian National Museum (directed by B. Murvanidze) in Marneuli municipality along the right bank of the Kura River. The stone mould was discovered among ceramic goods in the flat area near the Village Pirveli Kesalo. As a result of laboratory research, it was found that bronze chisels were poured into the mould. Similar stone moulds were discovered in Shida Kartli during the excavation of the Tskhinvali Natsargora settlement. The first archaeological material from Pirveli Kesalo dates back to the VIII-VII century BC.

The stone mould from the settlement reveals that In the 8th and 7th centuries BC, there was a metallurgical workshop in this area, where bronze scraps were produced, among other things. Thus, another metallurgical centre was added to the Kvemo Kartli region, which is well-known for its metal output.

Keywords: Transcaucasia; Southern Georgia; Metallurgy; Metal Production; Metallurgical Center.