By the east shore of
the Black Sea lies Georgia, the country of ancient traditions and rich
historical heritage. A chain of the Caucasus mountain high ranges has been
protecting the country from the North, both from invaders and Arctic cold air
masses determining its warm climate appropriate for human evolution. Primitive
peoples have been living in Georgia in Prehistoric times. According to a widely
held theory Africa is a cradle of the first hominids. Homo erectus, who emerged
some 2.5 million years ago, was the first hominid to venture out of Africa.
Georgia appears to be one of the first refuges for him: a mandible of the Homo
erectus discovered in 1991 in Dmanisi, Georgia, was determined to be 1.7 million
years old, the earliest known evidence of human presence in Eurasia.Two early
Pleistocene hominid crania were discovered at the same site. They are comparable with
Homo Ergaster from Koobi Fora, Kenya.
Mandible from Dmanisi
The highlands
of the Transcaucasus were one of the cradles of civilization. Neolithic culture
in Georgia originated around 5.000 B.C. There have been settlements in the
Mtkvari basin since these times. Simultaneously the transition began from
foraging and hunting to agriculture and stockraising. Large tumuli dating to the
beginning of the 3rd millenium B.C. have reached us, attesting to a definite
progress in social life. End of the second millenium and the first centuries of
the first millenium B.C. were marked with vigorous economic development that
involved differentiation in wealth within the tribes, that led to the transition
to the class society.
The Bronze Age settlement
The Georgian
tribes began to consolidate during the Late Bronze Age. The two most important
tribal unions arose at the end of the 2nd millenium, and beginning of the 1st
millenium B.C.: Diauehi (Diauhi, Daiaeni) formed about the 12th c. B.C.
southwest of Transcaucasia, and Colchis - in the 11th-9th cc. B.C. - in
the western Georgia. The powerful
Diauehi coalition resisted numerous attacks by Assyria who dominated in the
adjacent region, and consolidated many tribes of southern Transcaucasus. This
was the reason for becoming the target of the newly emerging state of Urartu. In
the early 8th c. B.C. Urartu campaigned against the Diauehi and annexed its
southernmost regions. By the middle of the century Diauehi was destroyed under
the attacks of Urartu and of the tribes of western
Georgia.
Gold Beaker. 1st half of the II millennium B
C
Since the 8th-7th cc.
iron metallurgy had been intensively developing in Colchis. Making of iron tools
promoted agriculture. Endemic wheat species Dika and Makha had been discovered
during unearthing of an Early Iron Age settlement. Numerous ploughs, millstones,
pestles, smashers, flint blades for sickles, etc. found in settlements give
evidence that Colchis was a place for growing cultured plants. 12 unique species
of wheat and their 130 varieties were cultivated in Georgia. "Colchian Silver" - the
first Georgian coin was minted in Colchis in the 6th c. B.C. (As is well known,
Greece was the first state to start minting of coins in the 7th c. B.C.).
"Colchian Silver" was widely used not only in Colchis, but in neigbouring
foreign countries as well.
Colchian Silver
Natural treasures of
Colchis attracted Greeks, who had colonized the Georgian Black Sea shore, and
established Greek city-states along it. The cities were governed by the state of
Colchis. Here passed one of the sections of the international merchant
road from India to Europe: 95 miles length Shorapani-Phasisi section. According
to Greek chroniclers 120 bridges were built along the rout. It would be easy to
realize how intensive was the trade.The well-known
myth about the Argonauts is a reflection of Greek-Georgian relations in those
times: King Athamas - the ruler of the town of Orchomenus, was told to sacrifice
his beloved son Phrixus if he did not want the fields to stay barren. Just
when young Phrixus was to be knifed by the oracle, Nephele, his mother, came to
rescue him. A winged ram with a golden fleece, the gift of Hermes, carried
Phrixus on his back to the bank of the river Phasis (the present riv. Rioni) in
Colchis, where Aeetes ruled. The golden-fleeced ram was sacrificed to Zeus and
his fleece was presented to King Aeetes, who hung it up on a tree in a sacred
grove of Ares, the God of war. A fire-breathing dragon whose eyes were never
closed by sleep guarded the golden fleece. Later on Jason, son of Aeson was
determined to bring back the golden fleece to Greece with the purpose of
regaining the throne usurpated by Pelias.
According to certain historians, the Argonauts came to Georgia after gold. Many fine gold artifacts have been unearthed in Vani. The story about the golden fleece may be linked with the fact that Georgians used a fleece to capture gold particles floating in rivers, after being washed away from gold deposits high in mountains.
According to certain historians, the Argonauts came to Georgia after gold. Many fine gold artifacts have been unearthed in Vani. The story about the golden fleece may be linked with the fact that Georgians used a fleece to capture gold particles floating in rivers, after being washed away from gold deposits high in mountains.
Gold animal figures: headdress decorations. IV c. B
C
Gold chain with a cameo found in Zugdidi (West
Georgia). III c.
Another prosperous Georgian
kingdom – Iberia, was located in East Georgia. The kingdom had active political,
economical and cultural contacts with the countries of Antique civilization.
Evidences of the above-mentioned are found in abundance in
Armazistsikhe-Bagineti, the royal residence in the ancient capital Mtskheta
(4th-3rd cc. BC – 4th-5th cc. AD).
Archaeological excavations at the site have uncovered Antique temple. It was built from adobe, laid on the base from the well-cut square blocks of sandstone. Both flat and spanish-tiles painted into red were used for roofing. A sculpture stood within the temple. Only a pedestal has survived. It is decorated with fine Antique order. The temple was linked with an extension and a wine cellar. 16 kvevri - large pots for keeping wine, were buried into earth in two rows. The royal palace, two bath houses and other constructions were unearthed in vicinity.
The bath house was of Roman-style, with cold and hot rooms, and baths with hydroisolating coating. The ground floor was used for heating facilities. Three Greek inscriptions curved in stone were found at the site. One of the texts comprises name of a person to whom the construction was dedicated. Greek language and alphabet quite widespread throughout East and West was popular in Georgia as well. In those times it was used simultaneously with original Georgian language and alphabet.
Gold chain with a cameo from Armaziskhevi (East
Georgia).III c.
Gold chain with an amulet and
an unguentarium. Late II c.
