Gagi (Aghjakala) Fortress (Region of Kvemo Kartli)
The Fortress of Gagi (Georgian: გაგის (აღჯაყალას) ციხე) – The historic fortress is located on a rocky hill overlooking the beautiful valley of the river Debeda(Georgian: დებედა). It is located in the central part of Kvemo Kartli. The first mention of the fortress appears in historical chronicles in the XI century. However, archaeological excavations indicate that even before the modern construction there was another fortress on this place. Built on a slope and was used as a dwelling during the Bronze Age. From the owners of the Gagi fortress comes the feudal line of Gageli (Georgian: გაგელი). During the late Middle Ages, the Gagi Fortress guarded a strategically important highway connecting Georgia with the Middle East and Iran. Over time, the protective value of the castle weakened, and today Gagi Fortress has only a shadow of its former glory.
The sources of the 14th century no longer mention this fortress. Since the 15th century, after the Turkish wars of conquest, the fortress has been called Aghjakala. Although much of the fortress lies in ruins, interesting architectural elements can still be highlighted. Wall century is marked by several round towers, including a rounded citadel at the southern entrance to the fort. As a result of archaeological excavations in the older part of the fortress, a large amount of glazed pottery was discovered, which is typical of the XI-XII centuries. On a hill near the fortress, fragments of pottery dating back to the Eneolithic, Early Bronze Age and Late Bronze Age have been discovered, indicating that people have inhabited these lands for thousands of years.
Kushchi village (Georgian: სოფელი კუშჩი), Marneuli Municipality (Georgian: მარნეულის მუნიციპალიტეტი)
