Kurgans, Churches and Karvasla: Preliminary results from the first two seasons of the Lagodekhi Archaeological Survey, Georgia

Hopper, Kristen; Rova, Elena; Kvavadze, Davit

doi:10.13173/9783447118736

Kurgans, Churches and Karvasla: Preliminary results from the first two seasons of the Lagodekhi Archaeological Survey, Georgia

Hopper, Kristen; Rova, Elena; Kvavadze, Davit

Authors

Kristen Hopper k.a.hopper@durham.ac.uk
Assistant Professor

Elena Rova

Davit Kvavadze

Contributors

Nicolo Marchetti
Editor

Francesca Cavaliere
Editor

Enrico Cirelli
Editor

Claudia D'Orazio
Editor

Gabriele Giacosa
Editor

Mattia Guidetti
Editor

Eleonora Mariani
Editor

Abstract

In many parts of the Southern Caucasus, significant changes to the landscape have occurred over the course of the 20th century due to agriculture, development, and other factors. Lagodekhi Municipality, an area of ca 900km2 at the eastern limit of Georgia, between the foothills of the Greater Caucasus and the Alazani River, is no exception. Its fertile plains have been impacted by agricultural intensification. In addition, this region is characterised by heavy vegetation in the river valleys, and difficult-to-access upland zones. Together these factors challenge our ability to read the archaeological record, and require carefully devised, and comparable, survey strategies. We have utilised historical (CORONA) and modern high resolution satellite imagery and historical maps to identify potential archaeological sites and features, as well as to explore the impact that changes in land use over the course of the last 70 years have had on our interpretation of the ancient landscape. This information was supplemented by published literature and local knowledge to guide field survey within the study area. This has resulted in the recording of sites dating from the Chalcolithic through the post-Medieval period and is increasing our understanding of long-term settlement patterns within the local region.

Citation

Hopper, K., Rova, E., & Kvavadze, D. (2023). Kurgans, Churches and Karvasla: Preliminary results from the first two seasons of the Lagodekhi Archaeological Survey, Georgia. In N. Marchetti, F. Cavaliere, E. Cirelli, C. D'Orazio, G. Giacosa, M. Guidetti, & E. Mariani (Eds.), Proceedings of the 12th International Congress on the Archeology of the Ancient Near East. https://doi.org/10.13173/9783447118736

Conference Name	12th International Congress on the Archeology of the Ancient Near East
Conference Location	Bologna, Italy
Start Date	Apr 6, 2021
End Date	Apr 9, 2021
Acceptance Date	Mar 5, 2022
Online Publication Date	Aug 2, 2023
Publication Date	2023
Deposit Date	Jun 22, 2022
Publicly Available Date	Sep 8, 2023
Volume	1
Book Title	Proceedings of the 12th International Congress on the Archeology of the Ancient Near East
ISBN	9783447118736
DOI	https://doi.org/10.13173/9783447118736
Public URL	https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1650364
Publisher URL	https://www.harrassowitz-verlag.de/Proceedings_of_the_12th_International_Congress_on_the_Archaeology_of_the_Ancient_Near_East/titel_7228.ahtml