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During two weeks of work, from 10/09 to 24/09/2010, dr. Stefano Furlani and Alberto Stinghen completed the geological and geo-morphological survey of the Shida Kartli region through the analysis of selected exposed sections in different parts of the study area and the collection of deposits samples initiated in 2009 by Luca Bertoldi. Special attention was devoted to the location of the EBA sites of Okherakhevi in the Kaspi/Mskheta district, Aradetis Orgora and Nastargora in the districts of Kareli and respectively Khashuri in relation with the ancient natural environment, and to the reconstruction, on the basis of satellite images and autoptic observation, of the ancient hydrographical system of the Kura river basin in the Shida Kartli province. Available evidence suggests an overall stability of geo-morphological conditions at least since the EBA at both Okherakhevi and Nastargora, whereas at Aradetis Orgora the presence of alluvial layers overlying the archaeological levels suggests that the bed of the Kura river was located nearer to the site than in present times, in agreement with the results of aerophotos interpretation. More in general, one should consider that during the last few thousand years the river basin has been under degradation rather than aggradation conditions, and that therefore, except for very specific local conditions, ancient sites are rather unlikely to have been buried under thick deposit layers.
During their field investigations, The geologists were accompanied by two of the team’s archaeologists (G. De Nobili and G. Khaburzania) who recorded the presence of possible archaeological remains in these areas.
Archaeological survey activities concentrated on the section of the Kaspi district located near the excavated site, with the aim of defining the archaeological landscape in which the Okherakhevi kurgans were settled. Ca 30 possible sites identified through the analysis of two sets of aerophotos (Soviet period photos of the 1950ies kindly provided by the Centre of Archaeology of the Georgian National Museum, and photos taken in 2000 kindly provided by the Tbilisi’s Geolab) were visited. Some of them, which were already known and/or excavated, were used as reference examples. Results are somehow problematic, since the collected pottery is scanty and mainly of late date, although the occasional presence of flint and obsidian flakes could support the presence of additional EBA settlements and/or burials in the area.
In the Nastargora area, interviews with the local population and study of the old excavation documentation allowed us to identify the so-called “Valley of the pits”, where Ramishvili carried out short excavations during the Natsargora campaign. We collected some pottery (most of which was again of late date) and lithics from the neighbouring area, in order to verify the possible presence of additional EBA pits or other archaeological remains.
During their field investigations, The geologists were accompanied by two of the team’s archaeologists (G. De Nobili and G. Khaburzania) who recorded the presence of possible archaeological remains in these areas.
Archaeological survey activities concentrated on the section of the Kaspi district located near the excavated site, with the aim of defining the archaeological landscape in which the Okherakhevi kurgans were settled. Ca 30 possible sites identified through the analysis of two sets of aerophotos (Soviet period photos of the 1950ies kindly provided by the Centre of Archaeology of the Georgian National Museum, and photos taken in 2000 kindly provided by the Tbilisi’s Geolab) were visited. Some of them, which were already known and/or excavated, were used as reference examples. Results are somehow problematic, since the collected pottery is scanty and mainly of late date, although the occasional presence of flint and obsidian flakes could support the presence of additional EBA settlements and/or burials in the area.
In the Nastargora area, interviews with the local population and study of the old excavation documentation allowed us to identify the so-called “Valley of the pits”, where Ramishvili carried out short excavations during the Natsargora campaign. We collected some pottery (most of which was again of late date) and lithics from the neighbouring area, in order to verify the possible presence of additional EBA pits or other archaeological remains.