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

In many parts of the South 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.