Avranlo Fortress (Region of Kvemo Kartli)
Avranlo Fortress (Georgian ავრანლოს ციკლოპური ციხე ) – The megalithic fortification dates back to the 3rd – 2nd millennium BC. It closes a narrow exit in the middle of the mountains where the only road that connects the historical region of Trialeti (Georgian: თრიალეთი )– with the Borjomi Gorge (Georgian: ბორჯომის ხეობა). Avranlo is a megalithic complex consisting of three tiers of terraces overlooking a river canyon. The lowest tier, at the base of the hill, is a semicircular wall about 80 meters long, the height of which reaches 3 meters in places. Between this wall and the mountain there is a small medieval Christian church and several caves nearby, collectively called the Abibos Monastery.
The second and third tiers are real “cyclopean” structures characterized by large stones, dry stonework and an unusual way of arrangement. The third, uppermost tier covers the mound. It has a rectangular plan, 25 m long and 18 m wide. The walls are 3-4 meters thick. The structure is significantly damaged, with many parts destroyed. Archaeological excavations in adjacent fields to the north of the megalithic fortress have resulted in to the Kura-Araxes culture settlement and necropolis XII-XI centuries B.C.The fortress is inscribed to the list of historical and cultural monuments of national importance in Georgia.
Avranlo village (Georgian: სოფელი ავრანლო), Tsalka municipality (Georgian: წალკის მუნიციპალიტეტი)