Iori-Alazani Basin Culture

The Iori-Alazani Basin Culture refers to the archaeological material culture of the tribes inhabiting the territory of the historical basin.

The populations bearing this culture were highly developed in agriculture, animal husbandry, metallurgy, and pottery. During the Early and Middle Bronze Ages, this region was initially encompassed within the distribution sphere of the Mtkvar-Araksis [Kura-Araxes] culture (3rd millennium BC), and subsequently within that of the Trialetis [Trialeti] culture (first half of the 2nd millennium BC). By the early phase of the Late Bronze Age, a material culture characteristic for the entire Central Transcaucasia appears to have become prevalent in this territory. However, from approximately the 13th century BC onward, a distinct culture emerged, evolving directly from the foundations of its predecessors.

From the late phase of the first half of the 1st millennium BC, during the epoch immediately preceding state formation, a homogenization (leveling) of the material culture occurred within the territory of the Iori-Alazani basin. Nevertheless, select characteristic features of this culture, which had been formulated in the 2nd millennium BC, persisted into the early centuries AD. This continuity of specific traits substantiates the uninterrupted development of the material culture throughout the indicated period.

Literature: ლომთათიძე გ., ბრინჯაოს სატევრები და მახვილები სამთავროს უძველეს სამარხებში, თბ., 1974; ფიცხელაური კ., იორ-ალაზნის აუზის ტერიტორიაზე მოსახლე ტომთა უძველესი კულტურა, თბ., 1965; მისივე, აღმოსავლეთ საქართველოს ტომთა ისტორიის ძირითადი პრობლემები (ძვ. წ. XV–VII სს.), თბ., 1973; ჯაფარიძე ო., არქეოლოგიური გათხრები თრიალეთში, თბ., 1969.

K. Pitskhelauri