Colchis – the ancient center of iron metallurgy
Colchis – the ancient center of iron metallurgy

Summary/Abstract: Research into iron metallurgy in Colchis is one of the most important subjects of ancient history studies. It is now recognized that Georgian tribes made an enormous contribution to iron metallurgy. Interest in this issue is conditioned by the colossal significance of iron in the life of ancient societies and in the evolution of humanity. Research conducted in Georgia in recent decades has shown that the Kartvelian tribes made a significant contribution to the formation of Caucasian cultures and, to a certain extent, played a decisive role in the emergence and development of certain branches. Taking into account the materials obtained by Georgian specialists and attested in written sources, some scientific arguments are currently emerging in favor of the idea that the tribes that inhabited the pre-mountainous area of ​​the eastern and southeastern Black Sea basin, on the territory of historical Colchis, knew the technology of iron production as early as the turn of the 2nd and 1st millennium BC and had achievements in this field. Research into the issues related to the iron and steel industry of Colchis was initiated in the 1960s by scientists from the Batumi Scientific Research Institute “N. Berdzenishvili” I. Gzelishvili and D. Khakhutaishvili. They established the working principle of the workshops discovered on the territory of Colchis, dealt with issues of chronology, the construction of smelting furnaces, the raw material base for iron production, etc. Recently, the Georgian-British international archaeological expedition has continued investigations in this direction on the territory of historical Colchis and, applying contemporary research methods, has once again elucidated the issue of dating the first stage of iron production in Colchis, revealing related issues. Research into the issues related to iron metallurgy, accompanied by the discovery of new monuments, is still ongoing. An essential contribution to this endeavor is made by the "Shota Rustaveli" National Science Foundation of Georgia, which subsidized, in 2019, within the framework of a grant project, the iron metallurgy research expedition.

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