Roman Import in Kingdom of Kartli (Iberia)
Keywords:
Archeology, Rome, Iberia, Great Mtskheta, ImportAbstract
The article examines the trade and economic ties between Georgia and the Roman Empire, based on archaeological materials. Their many-sided and remarkable relationship is frequently reflected in Georgian, Greek and Latin annals, chronicles and epigraphic materials (inscriptions). Besides written sources, archaeological artifacts discovered in Georgia are a clear confirmation of the long-standing connection. In order to understand the issue, the article presents notable examples of Roman imports found in the territory of Kartli Kingdom and highlights several important groups. It is noteworthy that Roman imports have been archaeologically confirmed as the capital Great Mtskheta (city Acropolis – Armaztsikhe-Bagineti, Pityakhshebi Settlement in Armaziskhevi, of artisans District Karsniskhevi, Svetitskhoveli adjacent Area, common urban cemetary of the principality on the field and etc.), as well as in administrative centers of the Kingdom (Kldeeti, Bori, Aragvispiri, Modinakhe, Aragvispiri, Ertso, Zghuderi), and in major trade and economic centers (Urbnisi, Zhinvali ...). Separate items are known from other sites (Agayani, Nichbisi, Akhmet Akhaldaba, Atotsi ...). Given the existence and extensive use of trade routes, the hundreds of imported items found in the Mtkvari and Aragvi valleys highlight the region’s active trade. Based on various archaeological materials, we can conclude that the Kartli kingdom’s power, economic prosperity and refined tastes played a major role in encouraging foreign trade.
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