Tbilisi's archaelogical treasure

In the basement of the Georgian National Museum in Tbilisi is the Archaelogical Treasury. Much of the artefacts are gold, but there are also silver, pewter, and bronze pieces. The permanent exhibtion was established in 2013 to mark the 150th anniversary of Ekvtime Takaishvili, who was involved in the earliest archaelogical excavations in Georgia.

Takaishvili (1863-1953) was involved in archaelogical excavations in Mtskheta, Vani, and Sachkhere. The Sachkhere tumulus cemetery was discovered in 1910. He is credited with linking the advent of metallurgy in Southern Caucasia with the Early Bronze Age, on the basis of metal objects found in the Sachkhere Barrows. Takaishvili’s hypothesis was confirmed by evidence from other Early Bronze Age sites discovered later in Georgia. His work led to further research in the period, now known as the Kura-Araxes Culture.

Takaishvili was the first scholar to correctly establish the chronology of the excavation site at Vani, and to suggest that locally obtained gold ore was used in the local production of gold jewellery.

One of the most interesting pieces (pictured above) is an iron and bronze statuette made for a ritual burial.

Two of my favourite pieces in the exhibition are the bronze figurine of the toast-master (speech-maker) and the bronze eagle figurine from the Vani excavation.

Below is a bronze belt buckle in the shape of a horseman, and a stone and clay horse figurine, both found in the Treli cemetery.

I also like the blue glass from Vani. And the four glass perfume bottles.

MARTINA NICOLLS is the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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