Research in the Vashnari settlement: Riddles of the Georgian Past

In the west of Georgia, in the Ozurgeti district, unique archaeological excavations are being conducted on the territory of the Vashnari settlement, which is one of the most outstanding archaeological monuments of the IV-VIII centuries. This complex includes castle towns, places of worship of martyrs, known as the Martyrium, as well as a three-nave basilica.

This ambitious project involves students of the Technical State University working under the guidance of an experienced archaeologist and professor of the Department of Archeology and History of Georgia, Vazhi Sadradze. The settlement of Vashnari, located in the Guria region, has its roots, limited by time from the V to the VIII century.

Currently, two key projects are being actively promoted: the first - archaeological excavations, which are funded by the National Agency for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Georgia, and the second - the project "Archeology with Youth", the winner of the competition of the Ministry of Culture of Georgia. The budget of the latter is about 15,000 lari (approximately 5.7 thousand dollars).

The Archaeology with Youth project is a practical experience for students and includes search operations, clearing old sites and exploring new ones.

The Minister of Culture of Georgia, Thea Tsulukiani, personally visited the archaeological excavations and discussed the future needs of the project, including issues of conservation and storage of archaeological finds.

The Ministry of Culture also expressed readiness to deepen cooperation with the Technical University of Georgia and continue to attract students to archaeological work.

The Vashnari settlement is a real archaeological gem, covering the period from the IV to the VIII centuries. The complex includes fortress cities, places of worship such as the Martyrium, and defensive systems. Special attention is paid to the Martyrium, which was erected on the grave of the martyr and probably existed from the IV to the VIII centuries before the destruction by the Arab commander Murvan Kru. In addition to its religious significance, Vashnari served as a city, including trade and industry, and the study of this archaeological complex helps to understand aspects of urban planning of the early Middle Ages.