Archaeological site of Tabakoni (Region of Samegrelo)
Archaeological site of Tabakoni (Dikhagudzuba) (Georgian: ტაბაკონის (დიხაგუძუბა) ნამოსახლარი). Traces of a settlement from the Colchian culture era were found on Tabakoni Mountain. The Colchian culture (an archaeological culture in Western Georgia) dates back to the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age. During excavations, Georgian and German scientists discovered the remains of wooden buildings of the Colchian settlement, which are about 4,500 years old. The general chronology of the monument contains the period from the Middle Ages of the third millennium BC to early antiquity. According to researchers, the discovered monument is the main settlement and was located on a protruding piece of land. This is where its Megrelian name “Tabakoni Dikhagudzuba” comes from, which means – land hanging on a hill.
As usual, artificial hills were built in marshy areas. At first, these hills were cultivated and then layer by layer were built throughout history. Researchers assume that the settlement located in the marshy area was surrounded by a canal, through which it was connected to other similar types of settlements. Behind such artificially settled hills there were usually one or two canals. In addition to navigation, this was a necessary attribute, playing the role of water drainage. Tabakoni has already been called the “Venice of ancient Colchian”. In the same area there is a ruined hill, on which there was probably a similar settlement with a moat. Bronze material and precious jewelry were found. Most likely, the hill was a cemetery of the ancient Colchians.
Didi Nedzi Village (Georgian სოფელი დიდი ნეძი), Zugdidi Municipality (Georgian ზუგდიდის მუნიციპალიტეტი)