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  • Dzulukhi, Aptarauli Hill B002

    work
    Creator:
    Vani Archaeological Survey
    Description:
    Aptarauli hill lies on the northeast edge of the modern settlement of Dzulukhi, which is located approximately 11 km southeast of Vani at 322 masl, on the banks of a tributary of the Sulori River, called the Dzulukhura (or, locally, the Dzlukhura). A scatter of pottery extends a couple of hundred meters along the edge of a series of cornfields and a hazelnut grove covering the northeast slope of a hill that rises above the left (west) bank of the Dzulukhura. Identifiable pottery includes Classical pithos fragments, as well as burnt mud plasters.
    Keyword:
    1st Millennium BCE and Settlement
    Citation to related publication:
    Chance finds were reported in 1950 and 1951. A brief survey was conducted at the location in 2008., Khoshtaria, N. V. 1959. “Arkheologicheskiye issledovaniya v Vani i Vanskom rayone v 1952 g. [Archaeologicalstudies in Vani and Vani district in 1952].” Masalebi sakartvelos da kavkasiis arkeologiisatvis [Materials for the Archaeology of Georgia and the Caucasus], vol. II. Tbilisi. p. 150. (In Russian.), and Kharabadze, S. 2008. “Vanis Qveqnis” Arqeologiuri Ruka (dzv.ts. VIII – akh.ts. III ss.) [Archaeological Map of the “Vani Region” (8th Century BC – 3rd Century AD)]. Tsardgenilia Doqtoris Akademiuri Khariskhis Mosapoveblad. Saqartvelos Teqnikuri Universiteti. Tbilisi, 0175, Saqartvelo. Seqtemberi. p. 43-44. (In Georgian with an English summary.)
    Discipline:
    Social Sciences and Humanities

  • Vani, Area B B001

    work
    Creator:
    Vani Archaeological Survey
    Description:
    Area B occupies a northeast-southwest oriented, peninsula-like area south of the ancient site of Vani at an elevation of 100 masl. It is bordered on its northwest and southeast sides by gorges through which run perennial streams. Following the initial recommendation of Sulkhan Kharabadze, the area was deemed appropriate for geophysical survey because it was a large plot of accessible, open pasture; it was close to the ancient site of Vani; and ancient features had been reported in the vicinity, including a wall of large blocks of dressed sandstone on the southeast side of the peninsula and pithoi on the northwest side. In 2009 geophysical survey of an area of approximately 3000 sq m (three complete 30 x 30 m survey units, and two partial units) was completed; the entire area was covered with the gradiometer and two of the 30 x 30 m units with the resistivity meter. In the northeast survey unit, the gradiometer revealed a U-shaped rectangular feature, oriented southeast-northwest, and approximately 15 m long and 10 m wide. Centered within this feature was a smaller rectangular feature. Resistivity survey revealed the outlines of this feature as low-resistivity anomalies, suggesting that they were not built out of stone but of some other material such as wood or mudbrick. In 2010 two trenches in Area B (B2010.1 and B2010.2) were opened. The purpose of excavation was to investigate the anomalies revealed by the geophysical survey of 2009. Both anomalies turned out to be natural, and neither trench revealed ancient features of any kind, although the topsoil in both trenches contained a scatter of sherds and tiles. The stone wall and attested pithoi are probably late (Mediaeval or modern), but pottery and tiles provide evidence for activity of the 1st millennium B.C. in Area B.
    Keyword:
    1st Millennium BCE
    Citation to related publication:
    No archaeological work has previously been conducted in this particular area of the site.
    Discipline:
    Social Sciences and Humanities

  • Vani A075

    work
    Creator:
    Vani Archaeological Survey
    Description:
    The archaeological site of Vani lies in the northern foothills of the lower Caucasus at the edge of the Phasis River plain, approximately 35 km southwest of Kutaisi and 4 km due south of the present-day course of the river. The site as excavated occupies a steep-sided hillock overlooking the left (west) bank of the Sulori River, a tributary of the Phasis. The hillock rises at its highest point to an elevation of 167 m asl, about 120 m above the plain below. As defined by its late Hellenistic fortification walls, the site occupies an area of approximately 6 ha, spread over three terraces (known as the Lower, Middle, and Upper Terraces). The site has been very extensively explored, but approximately 4 ha or two-thirds of the fortified area is still occupied by modern house plots and remains to be investigated. Vani is one of the most intensively studied archaeological sites in Colchis. Research at the site is ongoing and includes excavation and palaeoethnobotanical studies. Excavations have revealed a continuous occupation sequence extending from the 8th to the 1st centuries B.C. There is also some limited evidence for habitation in the Roman and Mediaeval periods. Especially notable are the rich and unusual graves of the Classical period (6th to 4th centuries), the monumental stone architecture of the Hellenistic period (3rd to 1st centuries), and the extensive evidence for interaction with the Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds, including not only commercial and luxury imports (Greek transport amphorae, fine bronze and silver utensils from both the Greek world and Persia), but also local production of bronze sculpture and one long Greek bronze inscription. Half a century of scientific excavation has produced a detailed model of the history of the site, and generated a rich series of hypotheses about its purpose and function in different periods. One of the more enigmatic features of Vani as currently understood is the very limited evidence for residential occupation at any time. Subjects of special interest include the regional significance of Vani in the Classical and Hellenistic periods, the nature of relations between this area and the Greek world, and the history of the region in Roman times. While it is clear that Vani was an unusually large and complex site in the 1st millennium B.C., it is less certain that it exercised the kinds of administrative control over local settlement and economic control over local commerce that have sometimes been attributed to it on the model of a Greek town. The purpose of the regional survey project begun in 2009 is to address these subjects by integrating existing knowledge about Vani and its environs into the kind of technological and conceptual framework characteristic of contemporary American survey archaeology. Of particular importance is the use of Geographic information Systems (GIS) as an organizational and analytical tool, and geophysical prospection both in the immediate environs of Vani and at regional sites. In 2009 the survey project investigated an area just outside the archaeological site of Vani to the south using two methods of geophysical prospection, electrical resistivity and magnetic survey. In 2010 excavations were carried out in one of these areas, Area B (B001).
    Keyword:
    Early Hellenistic, Iron Age, Classical, Late Hellenistic, Hoard, Settlement, Sanctuary, Roman, Burial, Fortification, and Mediaeval
    Citation to related publication:
    Archaeological remains at Vani were known as early as the 1850s, and the first report on assemblages found at the site was produced in 1880. First formal excavations began in 1896, but lasted only a few years. Stray finds of gold jewellery were reported in 1929 and 1940. A new intensive program of survey and excavation was carried intermittently from 1936 to 1946. In 1947, the Vani Archaeological Expedition was established. It was first led by Nino Khostaria (until 1963). Otar Lordkipanidze directed the activities from 1966 until 2002, and was succeeded by Darejan Kacharava after his death in 2002. Active excavations at the site concluded in 2007. Bibliography below is not exhaustive; rather, it lists major volumes on the archaeology of Vani. For a complete list of works published until 1995, see Vani IX volume (1996)., Lordkipanidze, Otar, ed. 1972. Vani I. Arkeologiuri gatkhrebi (1947-1969) [Vani I. Archaeological excavations (1947-1969)], vol. I. Tbilisi. (In Georgian with summaries in Russian and English.), Lordkipanidze, Otar, ed. 1976. Vani II. Arkeologiuri gatkhrebi [Vani II. Archaeological excavations], vol. II. Tbilisi. (In Georgian with a Russian summary.), Lordkipanidze, Otar, ed. 1977. Vani III. Arkeologiuri gatkhrebi [Vani III. Archaeological excavations], vol. III. Tbilisi. (In Georgian with Russian summaries.), Lordkipanidze, Otar, ed. 1979. Vani IV. Arkeologiuri gatkhrebi [Vani IV. Archaeological excavations], vol. IV. Tbilisi. (In Georgian with Russian and English summaries)., Lordkipanidze, Otar, ed. 1981. Vani V. Arkeologiuri gatkhrebi [Vani V. Archaeological excavations], vol. VI. Tbilisi. (In Georgian with Russian and English summaries)., Lordkipanidze, Otar, ed. 1981. Vani VI. Arkeologiuri gatkhrebi [Vani VI. Archaeological excavations], vol. VI. Tbilisi. (In Georgian with Russian and English summaries)., Lordkipanidze, Otar, ed. 1983. Vani VII. Arkeologiuri gatkhrebi [Vani VII. Archaeological excavations], vol. VII. Tbilisi. (In Georgian with Russian summaries)., Lordkipanidze, Otar, ed. 1986. Vani VIII. Arkeologiuri gatkhrebi [Vani VIII. Archaeological excavations], vol. VIII. Tbilisi. (In Georgian with Russian summaries)., Lordkipanidze, Otar, Darejan Kacharava, and Arrian Chanturia. 1996. Vani IX. Arkeologiuri gatkhrebi [Vani IX. (Archaeological excavations: Analytical bibliography: 1850-1995)]. Tbilisi. (Parallel texts in Georgian and English.), Lordkipanidze, Otar and Pierre Lévêque. Eds. 1996. Sur les traces des Argonautes. Actes du 6e symposium de Vani (Colchide) 22-29 septembre 1990, edited and translated by A. Fraysse, E. Geny and T. Khartchilava. Paris : Diffusé par les belles letters., Lordkipanidze, Otar and Pierre Lévêque. Eds.1999. La mer Noire, zone de contacts : actes du VIIe Symposium de Vani (Colchide), 26-30 IX 1994. Besançon: Presses universitaires franc-comtoises. , Lordkipanidze, Otar and Pierre Lévêque. Eds.1999. Religions du Pont-Euxin : actes du VIIIe Symposium de Vani, Colchide, 1997. Translated and edited by Arlette Fraysse et Évelyne Geny. Paris : Diffusé par Les Belles letters., Lordkipanidze, Otar. 2000. Phasis. The River and City in Colchis. Geographica Historica 15. Stuttgart: Steiner., Faudot, M., Fraysse, A. and É. Geny, eds. 2002. Pont-Euxin et commerce : la genèse de la Route de la soie : actes du IXe Symposium de Vani, Colchide, 1999. Besançon: Presses universitaires franc-comtoises., Kacharava,Darejan, Faudot, M. and E. Geny, eds. 2002. Autour de la Mer Noire: Hommage á Otar Lordkipanidze. Besançon : Presses universitaires franc-comtoises., Kacharava,Darejan, Faudot, M. and E. Geny. Eds. 2005. Pont-Euxin et Polis. Polis Hellenis et Polis Barbaron. Actes du Xe Symposium de Vani 23-26 septembre 2002: hommage à Otar Lordkipanidzé et Pierre Lévêque. Besançon: Presses universitaires Franc- Comtoises., and Kacharava, Darejan, Guram Kvirkvelia, and Jennifer Chi. 2008. Wine, Worship, and Sacrifice: the Golden Graves of Ancient Vani. Princeton: Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, in association with Princeton University Press.
    Discipline:
    Social Sciences and Humanities

  • Vani A074

    work
    Creator:
    Vani Archaeological Survey
    Description:
    The modern settlement of Vani. For a complete description of archaeological work carried out at the ancient site see entry A075.
    Keyword:
    Modern Settlement
    Citation to related publication:
    Archaeological remains at Vani were known as early as the 1850s, and the first report on assemblages found at the site was produced in 1880. First formal excavations began in 1896, but lasted only a few years. Stray finds of gold jewellery were reported in 1929 and 1940. A new intensive program of survey and excavation was carried intermittently from 1936 to 1946. In 1947, the Vani Archaeological Expedition was established. It was first led by Nino Khostaria (until 1963). Otar Lordkipanidze directed the activities from 1966 until 2002, and was succeeded by Darejan Kacharava after his death in 2002. Active excavations at the site concluded in 2007. Bibliography below is not exhaustive; rather, it lists major volumes on the archaeology of Vani. For a complete list of works published until 1995, see Vani IX volume (1996). See entry for site A075.
    Discipline:
    Social Sciences and Humanities

  • Dutskhuni A071

    work
    Creator:
    Vani Archaeological Survey
    Description:
    According to Raphiel Kartvelishvili, the pithos burial of a child had been found on the steep slopes rising above the modern village of Dutskhuni. Pottery, possibly modern, was also reported in the area.
    Keyword:
    1st Millennium BCE and Burial
    Citation to related publication:
    No archaeological work has previously been conducted at the site.
    Discipline:
    Social Sciences and Humanities

  • Qumuri A068

    work
    Creator:
    Vani Archaeological Survey
    Description:
    In a small clearing on the east side of a narrow valley on the right bank of the Qumuri River, there were exposed embedded in the roots of a fallen tree large quantities of what appeared to be iron slag.
    Keyword:
    Quarry
    Citation to related publication:
    No official archaeological work has been previously conducted at the site. , Gamqrelidze, G. 1982. Tsentraluri kolkhetis dzveli namosakhlarebi [Ancient settlements of Central Colchis]. Tbilisi. p. 33. (In Georgian with summaries in Russian and English.), and Kharabadze, S. 2008. “Vanis Qveqnis” Arqeologiuri Ruka (dzv.ts. VIII – akh.ts. III ss.) [Archaeological Map of the “Vani Region” (8th Century BC – 3rd Century AD)]. Tsardgenilia Doqtoris Akademiuri Khariskhis Mosapoveblad. Saqartvelos Teqnikuri Universiteti. Tbilisi, 0175, Saqartvelo. Seqtemberi. p. 11. (In Georgian with an English summary.)
    Discipline:
    Social Sciences and Humanities

  • Qumuri A067

    work
    Creator:
    Vani Archaeological Survey
    Description:
    The modern settlement of Qumuri is perched on the west (left) bank of the Qumuri River, about 8 km upstream of Shuamta, and 7.5 km south-southwest of Vani. The village is located in the Vani administrative district. It lies at the beginning of the higher foothills of the Lesser Caucasus, above and beyond the zone of low hillocks overlooking the Phasis River plain. In recent years, a local resident named Raphiel Kartvelishvili has identified a number of points of interest nearby, including a possible iron smelting site (A068) and, on the evidence of a dense sherd scatter, at least one Iron Age settlement (A069). Both sites are situated in and around the upland pastures upstream of the modern village at elevations approaching 1000 masl.
    Keyword:
    Modern Settlement
    Citation to related publication:
    No official archaeological work has been previously conducted at the site., Gamqrelidze, G. 1982. Tsentraluri kolkhetis dzveli namosakhlarebi [Ancient settlements of Central Colchis]. Tbilisi. p. 33. (In Georgian with summaries in Russian and English.), and Kharabadze, S. 2008. “Vanis Qveqnis” Arqeologiuri Ruka (dzv.ts. VIII – akh.ts. III ss.) [Archaeological Map of the “Vani Region” (8th Century BC – 3rd Century AD)]. Tsardgenilia Doqtoris Akademiuri Khariskhis Mosapoveblad. Saqartvelos Teqnikuri Universiteti. Tbilisi, 0175, Saqartvelo. Seqtemberi. p. 11. (In Georgian with an English summary.)
    Discipline:
    Social Sciences and Humanities

  • Zeda Gora A066

    work
    Creator:
    Vani Archaeological Survey
    Description:
    On the northern slope of Gachechiladzeebis Ubani, a hill on the northwestern edge of Zeda Gora, a Roman pit grave was excavated by Sulkhan Kharabadze in an agricultural plot owned by Paata Gachechiladze. The grave was exposed when the owner cut into the hillslope to create a terrace for growing tomatoes. It is dated to the 1st-3rd century A.D. by its grave goods, which included an iron sword, a number of iron arrowheads, an iron axe, a bronze bracelet, and a ceramic jug and phiale.
    Keyword:
    Roman and Burial
    Citation to related publication:
    Metal objects were found by chance in the general area of Zeda and Kveda Gora in 1945. Extensive surveys were carried out in 1999-2001 and an excavation of a pit grave was conducted in 2003., Koridze, D. 1965. Dzolkhuri dzulturis istoriisatvis. Tbilisi. pp. 15-16, 107-108. (In Georgian)., Jikia, L. 1988. Brinjaos sameurneo iaraghebi kutaisis muzeumdan. Kiemm, V. pp. 28-30, fig. 21-5, 110-118. (In Georgian.), Kharabadze, S. 2003. Akh. ts. I-II ss-is samarkhi sopel Zeda Goradan (Vanis r-ni) [The 1st-2nd cent. A.D. grave from the village of Zeda Gora (Vani district)]. Iberia-kolkheti, No. 1. Dziebani, Damatebani IX. Tbilisi. pp. 164-169. (In Georgian.), and Kharabadze, S. 2008. “Vanis Qveqnis” Arqeologiuri Ruka (dzv.ts. VIII – akh.ts. III ss.) [Archaeological Map of the “Vani Region” (8th Century BC – 3rd Century AD)]. Tsardgenilia Doqtoris Akademiuri Khariskhis Mosapoveblad. Saqartvelos Teqnikuri Universiteti. Tbilisi, 0175, Saqartvelo. Seqtemberi. p. 11-14. (In Georgian with an English summary.)
    Discipline:
    Social Sciences and Humanities

  • Zeda Gora, Natatralitsike A065

    work
    Creator:
    Vani Archaeological Survey
    Description:
    On the southwestern edge of Zeda Gora lies a hill known as Natsikhvarisgora, with the remains of a fortress called Natatralitsike on its summit. The fortress consists of a rectangular structure or enclosure on the top of the hill, with a well preserved tower including an interior postern at its southwest corner (the northwest corner of the fortress is curved on the exterior). There is a gate on the south side of the enclosure, and there are two preserved windows on the north side. In the center of the enclosure are the poorly reserved remains of some kind of interior structure or keep. The lower parts of the walls of the fortress are built of large ashlar foundation blocks, about 0.7 m wide by 0.5 m high, topped by rubble masonry with smaller, irregularly shaped stones widely ranging in size, set in hard white mortar. In most places, even this upper facing has been removed, exposing the mortared rubble core of the walls. The walls are roughly 2.5 m thick, while the preserved height of one of the standing segments is 5.1 m.
    Keyword:
    Fortification, Mediaeval, and 16th-17th century CE
    Citation to related publication:
    Metal objects were found by chance in the general area of Zeda and Kveda Gora in 1945. Extensive surveys were carried out in 1999-2001 and an excavation of a pit grave was conducted in 2003., Koridze, D. 1965. Dzolkhuri dzulturis istoriisatvis. Tbilisi. pp. 15-16, 107-108. (In Georgian)., Jikia, L. 1988. Brinjaos sameurneo iaraghebi kutaisis muzeumdan. Kiemm, V. pp. 28-30, fig. 21-5, 110-118. (In Georgian.), Kharabadze, S. 2003. Akh. ts. I-II ss-is samarkhi sopel Zeda Goradan (Vanis r-ni) [The 1st-2nd cent. A.D. grave from the village of Zeda Gora (Vani district)]. Iberia-kolkheti, No. 1. Dziebani, Damatebani IX. Tbilisi. pp. 164-169. (In Georgian.), and Kharabadze, S. 2008. “Vanis Qveqnis” Arqeologiuri Ruka (dzv.ts. VIII – akh.ts. III ss.) [Archaeological Map of the “Vani Region” (8th Century BC – 3rd Century AD)]. Tsardgenilia Doqtoris Akademiuri Khariskhis Mosapoveblad. Saqartvelos Teqnikuri Universiteti. Tbilisi, 0175, Saqartvelo. Seqtemberi. p. 11-14. (In Georgian with an English summary.)
    Discipline:
    Social Sciences and Humanities

  • Zeda Gora, Natsikhvarisgora A064

    work
    Creator:
    Vani Archaeological Survey
    Description:
    On the southwestern edge of Zeda Gora is located a hill called Natsikhvarisgora. On the northeast slope of the hill, in a recent road cut, Sulkhan Kharabadze found a bronze hoe dated to the 8th-7th century B.C., and reported finding Classical materials as well. Pottery (including a Colchian amphora toe) and many fragments of burnt mud plaster have also been recorded by Sulkhan Kharabadze on the top of the hill, as well as on its northern and southern slopes.
    Keyword:
    Iron Age, Classical, and Settlement
    Citation to related publication:
    Metal objects were found by chance in the general area of Zeda and Kveda Gora in 1945. Extensive surveys were carried out in 1999-2001 and an excavation of a pit grave was conducted in 2003., Koridze, D. 1965. Dzolkhuri dzulturis istoriisatvis. Tbilisi. pp. 15-16, 107-108. (In Georgian)., Jikia, L. 1988. Brinjaos sameurneo iaraghebi kutaisis muzeumdan. Kiemm, V. pp. 28-30, fig. 21-5, 110-118. (In Georgian.), Kharabadze, S. 2003. Akh. ts. I-II ss-is samarkhi sopel Zeda Goradan (Vanis r-ni) [The 1st-2nd cent. A.D. grave from the village of Zeda Gora (Vani district)]. Iberia-kolkheti, No. 1. Dziebani, Damatebani IX. Tbilisi. pp. 164-169. (In Georgian.), and Kharabadze, S. 2008. “Vanis Qveqnis” Arqeologiuri Ruka (dzv.ts. VIII – akh.ts. III ss.) [Archaeological Map of the “Vani Region” (8th Century BC – 3rd Century AD)]. Tsardgenilia Doqtoris Akademiuri Khariskhis Mosapoveblad. Saqartvelos Teqnikuri Universiteti. Tbilisi, 0175, Saqartvelo. Seqtemberi. p. 11-14. (In Georgian with an English summary.)
    Discipline:
    Social Sciences and Humanities