Colchian culture

Colchian culture (Georgian: კოლხური კულტურა; 3000 BCE to 600 BCE) is Neolithic - an early Bronze Age and Iron Age culture of the western Caucasus, mostly in western Georgia. It was partially succeeded by the Koban culture in northern and central Caucasus.

Ancient Kingdom of Colchis
Colchic axis. Characteristic Ornaments.
Colchian gold diadem

It is named after the ancient geographic region of Colchis, which covered a large area along the Black Sea coast. It is mainly known for highly developed bronze production and artistic craftsmanship.[1] There are many items of copper and bronze found in ancient graves. Graves found and studied have been located in the Abkhazia region,[2] the Sukhumi mountain complexes,[3] the Racha highlands where brick tiles and graffiti have been found, and the Colchian plains (კოლხეთის დაბლობი) where collective graves have been found.

Collective graves occurred during the last stages of the Colchian culture (c.8th century to 6th century BCE). In these graves bronze items were found that represented foreign trade occurred with the Colchian culture. At this time an increase in the production of weapons and agricultural tools is seen. Evidence of copper mining has been found in Racha, Abkhazia, Svaneti, and Adjara.[1][3] Ruins of palaces are present in the Colchian Plains.[4]

Colchian culture is characterized by Colchian axes, sickles, short spears, flat axes, bow-shaped and cylindrical axes, belts, bracelets, bearings, and statuettes. The items are often painted and sometimes even with the sculptural expression expressing the religious ideas of the Colchis.

See also

References
  1. Иессен, A (1935). К вопросу о древнейшей металлургии меди на Кавказе [To the question of the oldest copper metallurgy in the Caucasus] (in Russian).
  2. Трапш, M (1962). Памятники колхидской культур в селе Куланурхва Абхазской АССР, Сух [Monuments of Colchian cultures in the village of Kulanurkhwa, Abkhaz ASSR, USSR] (in Russian).
  3. კალანდაძე, ა (1953). სოხუმის მთის არქეოლოგიური ძეგლები [Archaeological Monuments of Sokhumi Mountain] (in Georgian).
  4. ქორიძე, დ (1965). კოლხური კულტურის ისტორიისათვის [History of Colchian Culture] (in Georgian).
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.