David Mindorashvili, Bidzina Murvanidze, Giorge Gogochuri Georgian National Museum (Georgia, Tbilisi)
Archaeological Researches in Marneuli Municipality
Expedition of Otar Lortkipanidze Institute of Archaeological Researches of the National Museum of Georgia (head B. Murvanidze) carried out works in Marneuli municipality, on the right bank of the River Kura (Fig. I). The expedition revealed some archaeological sites. Back in 2011, at the village of Ilmazlo, on the elevated place, a multilayer archaeological site was excavated. The expedition revealed cultural layers of pre-Classical, Classical periods and Middle Ages (Fig. I1, IV, V, VI1-4, VII1-32). Near the village, on the wide-open field the expedition found the remnants of former settlement of the Hellenistic period (Fig. I2, II1, VII33-42, VIII1-11). In the vicinity of the village Pirveli Qesalo, in the trial trench, and in the section of steep coastline, pottery fragments were found, dating the former settlement to the first half of the first millennium B.C. (Fig. VIII13-26). A stone mold, found at the same site makes us to think that there should have been a metallurgical workshop (Fig. VIII27). Near the settlement, the expedition found a glass unguentarium and a clay jug dated to the 1st-3rd cent. B.C. These findings make us to suppose that the cemetery of the same period should be located at the place (Fig. VIII30-31). At the village of Meore Qasalo, in the section of riverside rock the expedition exposed the remnants of the settlement of Early Middle Age. The walls were constructed with adobe, and roofed with tiles (Fig. III2). Stone stele remnants were found here too (Fig. IX). Thus, on the right bank of the river Kura the expedition revealed several archaeological sites, chronological range of which is rather wide. Appearance of the oldest settlement along the right bank of the r. Kura was conditioned by the remarkable economic opportunities. Along the populated places a road was formed gradually, which later played the role of international highway. It should be noted that Strabo describes this road. The settlements located along the road should have been actively engaged in international trade-economic and cultural relations.
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