Archaeological Excavations in Tsikhisdziri and the Issue of Identity of Petra-Tsikhisdziri

Abstract

Tsikhisdziri fortress is located 7 kilometers south of Kobuleti and is constructed on coastal hills (Tab. I1-2, VII1). Most scholars identified Tsikhisdziri with the repeatedly mentioned by Procopius of Caesarea (the 6th century) the city of Petra, which Emperor Justinian made an important strategic point in the fight against the Iranians; although some scholars are still skeptical about the identity problem of Petra-Tsikhisdziri.

In 2017 in the south part of Tsikhisdziri acropolis, where there are double stone walls of fortification, a tower burnt and destructed due to military actions was excavated (Tab. II2, III-IV, VII1-3). The retrieved material convincingly proved the theory of identity of Petra-Tsikhisdziri.

At the excavations of the tower the researchers found multiple clay vessels (Tab. V1-13), stones for manual mills, (Tab. V14-18), iron weapons and equipment: armor, coat mails, arm-bandage, daggers, knives (Tab. V20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26), helmets, shields, swords, axes, spearheads, arrowheads (VI1, 2-4, 5-7, 8-13, 14-20, 21-33); sickles (Tab. VI34-40), bridle (Tab. V27) and the like. Wheat and barley grain samples were also found in the tower.

98 silver Sassanid coins were found in the tower (Tab. VI41). The latest ones are the samples of coins made in the name of Khosro the First (531-579). According to the coins the date of ruin of the tower and the names of the fortress protectors are determined. It is known that in 542, Iranians defeated Byzantine and Lazica forces and managed to occupy Petra. Iranians were forced to leave Petra only in 551 as a result of blood-shedding battle. Coins found in the castle should have been designed for fees of Iranian warriors fortified in Petra (Tsikhisdziri). Apparently Iranians hid money before the battle and because of the known reason failed to take it out. According to the coins it becomes evident that the tower was ruined in the middle of the 6th century. If we consider the historical background, we can state that the tower (and generally the citadel) was destructed in 551.

The situation observed in the tower reflects one of the final episodes of the longlasting war between Byzantine Empire and Iran on the territory of Egrisi, when Greeks and Lazi defeated Iranians fortified in Petra. The Byzantines ruined the city acropolis and it was abandoned for a long time (the acropolis and not the city, as a whole, which still continued existence). The revival of acropolis of Petra-Tsikhisdziri began only in the 10th century, although some of its parts, including tower N5 have never been reconstructed later.