Archaeology in Southern Caucasus: Perspectives from Georgia

Sagona, Antonio and Michael Abramischwili (editors). Archaeology in Southern Caucasus: Perspectives from Georgia. Leuven: Peeters, 2008`. First edition. Quarto (12″ x 8-1/2″). viii, 477, (3)pp. Red cloth lettered in gilt. Profusely illustrated with drawings, photos (1, in color), maps and archeological ground plans. An ex-library book but with minimal rubber stamps on title page & at bottom of text block, otherwise fine.

The land of Georgia, nestled in the eastern corner of the Black Sea, has assumed a certain fabled status, as indeed has much of the territory of southern Caucasus. To the Graeco-Roman mind, Georgia was perceived as the end of all the earth where magic, sea travel, exoticness, and many more concepts besides combined to conjure up a mythical land in the imagination of the ancients. For many decades now the work of local archaeologists has brought into sharper focus these frontier societies. Whether through the excavation of settlements or burials, hill forts or cave sites, the antiquity of Georgia is now more tangible. Nonetheless, barriers remain in fully appreciating the richness of Georgia’s cultural heritage. Language and a limited amount of accessible literature have precluded a wider readership. This volume of collected essays, ranging from the earliest settlements to the Medieval Period, is seen as a contribution to the dissemination process. The twenty-five papers – for the most part brief and heavily illustrated – provide a useful introduction to recent archaeological investigations in the land of Georgia. (Publisher)

Contents: New discoveries from Dmanisi / D. Lordkipanidze, M. Nioradze, A. Vekua — Some middle and upper Paleolithic sites in Western Georgia / N. Tushabramishvili — Pottery of the early farmers from Eastern Georgia / L. Chelidze, G. Chikovani — Archaeological sites of the Early Barrow period in the Aragvi Gorge / G. Gogochuri — The settlement at Tsikhiagora and the Early Barrows at Kavtishkhevi / Z. Makharadze — The Badaani settlement / G. Mirtskhulava — Kura-Araxes tombs at Takhtidziri / M. Jalabadze, G. Palumbi — Kura-Araxes tombs at Aradetis Orgora / I. Koridze, G. Palumbi — The cemetery at Kvatskhelebii / L. Glonti, M. Ketskhoveli, G. Palumbi — Mchadijvari Gora / L. Tsitlanadze — A middle bronze age burial at Atsquri / V. Licheli, R. Rusishvili — Bronze age barrows in Southeast Goergia / K. Kakhiani, E. Ghighvashvili — The settlement at Pichori and Colchian Bronze Age chronology / G. Pkhakadze, M. Baramidze; The middle bronze age settlement at Anaklia II / D. Muskhelishvili, B. Murvanidze, L. Jibldze — Excavations at Sajoge, 2003 / M. Abramishvili, W. Orthmann — The Tsaghvili necropolis / A. Ramishvili — Mamuliebis Dikha-Gudzuba, Colchis / R. Papuashvili, N. Papuashvili — Late bronze age barrows at Tsitelgori / R. Abramishvili, M. Abramishvili — The cultural attribution of the Barrow 1 at Titselgori / N. Gomelauri — Transcaucasian horse bits in the late bronze age to early iron age period / I. Sultanishvili — Chorokhi workshop of the ancient Colchian centre of iron metallurgy / N. Kakhutaishvili — Archaeological excavations at Vani in 2002 / D. Kacharava … [et al.] — Roman aristocracy in Tblilisi? / M. Abramishvili … [et al.] — The Zhinvali cemetery / V. Chikhladze — The Aragvi Basin in the middle ages / G. Rcheulishvili. (OCLC)

Supplement 19 of the Peeters series, “Ancient Near Eastern Studies.” near fine. Hardcover. (53079) $95