In spite of the recent intensification of field research in the region, the Chalcolithic period of the Southern Caucasus is still insufficiently known, especially in its earliest part, which corresponds to the first half of the 5th millennium BC. Important evidence concerning this phase was brought to light during recent excavations by the joint “Georgian-Italian Lagodekhi Archaeological Project” at Tsiteli Gorebi 5 in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia. The site is part of a cluster of Chalcolithic settlements located close to the Alazani river, some of which had been investigated in the 1970s. Despite the heavy damage caused to it by 20th century mechanised agriculture, it proved to be a single-period settlement, which 14C dates firmly anchor to the first two centuries of the 5th millennium BC. It provided evidence for ditches and rectilinear architecture, and yielded a homogeneous assemblage of pottery, lithics, bone objects and animal bones. Pottery, in particular, shows some continuity with the Neolithic Shulaveri-Shomu tradition, but includes typical Chalcolithic features as well. Notably, no vegetal-tempered pottery was recovered from the site. Continuity with the local Neolithic tradition may also be seen in the presence of ditches, whereas rectilinear architecture apparently represents an innovation compared to the ubiquitous presence of circular buildings which characterise the former, and also other categories of finds appear rather connected to later Chalcolitic developments. The article presents the results of the first two seasons of excavations and geomorphological investigations at the site, discusses the main categories of finds and offers some preliminary reflections about its position within the sequence of the local Chalcolithic cultures and about the lifestyle of its ancient inhabitants.
In spite of the recent intensification of field research in the region, the Chalcolithic period of the Southern Caucasus is still insufficiently known, especially in its earliest part, which corresponds to the first half of the 5th millennium BC. Important evidence concerning this phase was brought to light during recent excavations by the joint “Georgian-Italian Lagodekhi Archaeological Project” at Tsiteli Gorebi 5 in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia. The site is part of a cluster of Chalcolithic settlements located close to the Alazani river, some of which had been investigated in the 1970s. Despite the heavy damage caused to it by 20th century mechanised agriculture, it proved to be a single-period settlement, which 14C dates firmly anchor to the first two centuries of the 5th millennium BC. It provided evidence for ditches and rectilinear architecture, and yielded a homogeneous assemblage of pottery, lithics, bone objects and animal bones. Pottery, in particular, shows some continuity with the Neolithic Shulaveri-Shomu tradition, but includes typical Chalcolithic features as well. Notably, no vegetal-tempered pottery was recovered from the site. Continuity with the local Neolithic tradition may also be seen in the presence of ditches, whereas rectilinear architecture apparently represents an innovation compared to the ubiquitous presence of circular buildings which characterise the former, and also other categories of finds appear rather connected to later Chalcolitic developments. The article presents the results of the first two seasons of excavations and geomorphological investigations at the site, discusses the main categories of finds and offers some preliminary reflections about its position within the sequence of the local Chalcolithic cultures and about the lifestyle of its ancient inhabitants.
Tsiteli Gorebi 5, a New Early Chalcolithic Site in Eastern Georgia. Results of the 2018-1019 Excavations by the “Georgian-Italian Lagodekhi Archaeological Project”
ROVA E.
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;AMATO, F.;BOARETTO, E.;BOSCHIAN, G.;SIRACUSANO, G.;TONETTO, L.
In corso di stampa
Abstract
In spite of the recent intensification of field research in the region, the Chalcolithic period of the Southern Caucasus is still insufficiently known, especially in its earliest part, which corresponds to the first half of the 5th millennium BC. Important evidence concerning this phase was brought to light during recent excavations by the joint “Georgian-Italian Lagodekhi Archaeological Project” at Tsiteli Gorebi 5 in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia. The site is part of a cluster of Chalcolithic settlements located close to the Alazani river, some of which had been investigated in the 1970s. Despite the heavy damage caused to it by 20th century mechanised agriculture, it proved to be a single-period settlement, which 14C dates firmly anchor to the first two centuries of the 5th millennium BC. It provided evidence for ditches and rectilinear architecture, and yielded a homogeneous assemblage of pottery, lithics, bone objects and animal bones. Pottery, in particular, shows some continuity with the Neolithic Shulaveri-Shomu tradition, but includes typical Chalcolithic features as well. Notably, no vegetal-tempered pottery was recovered from the site. Continuity with the local Neolithic tradition may also be seen in the presence of ditches, whereas rectilinear architecture apparently represents an innovation compared to the ubiquitous presence of circular buildings which characterise the former, and also other categories of finds appear rather connected to later Chalcolitic developments. The article presents the results of the first two seasons of excavations and geomorphological investigations at the site, discusses the main categories of finds and offers some preliminary reflections about its position within the sequence of the local Chalcolithic cultures and about the lifestyle of its ancient inhabitants.
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