Student archaeologists from the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) have discovered the Iron Age metallurgical stoves, ironstone pits in Chuberi Gorge of Svaneti. This discovery once again confirms the information provided in Urartian cuneiform inscriptions and ancient Greek sources about iron production on the territory of today’s Georgia.
The Svaneti archaeological expedition of the Institute of Archaeology at the TSU Faculty of Humanities excavated metallurgy workshops located on 50-60 hectares in the village of Lakhami of Chuberi Gorge. According to Zviad Kvitsiani, TSU Associate Professor and Head of the expedition, “iron stoves, as well as iron crust, processed iron, stone and plaster-covered stoves discovered during students’ scientific practice are dated to the 8th – 7th centuries BC. The amount of discovered fragments and the size of the territory enable us to conclude that iron extracted in Svaneti, Racha and Chorokhi River Basin was supplied not only to Kolkheti, but to Southwest Asian states too. Iron extraction and processing was a sign of existence of high civilization.”
Zviad Kvitsiani said that in frames of students’ scientific practice, exploration works were carried out in another village of Chuberi Gorge – Larilari. TSU students found another cremation field on the territory adjacent to two cremation cemeteries of the Pre-Classical Antiquity and Hellenistic Periods discovered and studied in the 80s under the guidance of TSU Professor Shota Chartlani. The head of the expedition said that cremation cemetery is located on the private territory and in case of an agreement the TSU archaeological expedition will launch excavation and investigation in autumn.
