SEARCHING FOR GEORGIAN (KARTVELIAN) ETHNOS IN PONTUS AND CAPPADOCIA ACCORDING TO THE SCIENTIFIC WORKS OF GIORGI GOZALISHVILI

Abstract

The problem of the Georgian ethnos formation remains one of the key questions in the history of the Ancient world. Although have been conducted in this direction the most important historical, archeological, anthropological studies, the issue of lack of direct empirical material and differences is not considered fully explored. There are very diverse and numerous scientific studies in this direction: Ivane Javakhishvili, Simon Janashia, Grigol Giorgadze, Giorgi Melikishvili, Otar Japaridze, etc., the specific perceptions of the sources present the mentioned topic differently. This becomes even more striking when it comes to nomadic tribes outside the territory of Georgia, in Ancient Asia, Pontus and Cappadocia. If all the leading scientists of the history of the Ancient world tried to express their opinion in the historical process taking place in the territory of Georgia, few Georgian scientists dared to express their opinion on the research of the ethnic processes taking place in the mentioned territories of Ancient Asia. This stemmed from Soviet ideological pressure, according to which it was undesirable to aspire to a subject that explored ethnic processes outside the Soviet Union. This was seen all the more sharply in terms by I.B. Stalin’s of well-known doctrine, according to which the study of ethnos was less relevant in archaic and feudal societies, because the formation and perfection of the nation, had to take place from the 19th century, in the wake of the formation of capitalism. This was also the case with the Georgian (Kartvelian) ethnic group. It is not surprising that Georgian scientists had to covertly tell their truth with a softened tone and various machinations, so as not to be caught in the wave of repression. Only the units were able to research from a different angle than this prevailing ideology. In many cases, their scientific works were victims of the censorship of the Soviet totalitarian regime. In the best case, the scientific community would exclude them (with the label “gifted” of nationalist dilettante scientist).

Keywords: history, Ethnic Society, science, Georgian (Kartvelian) Ethnos, Giorgi Gozalishvili.