Format: In-Person
Author(s):

• Kevin

  McGeough

  - University of Lethbridge
• Shawn

  Bubel

  - University of Lethbridge
• Benjamin

  Porter

  - University of California, Berkeley
• Jordan

  Weitzel

  - University of California, Berkeley

During the first millennium BCE, a series of dendritic long-distance exchange routes extended across the arid zones of the Southern Levant connecting the Arabian Peninsula with the Red and Mediterranean Seas. A central node in this cosmopolitan commercial network was ancient Bozrah, modern Busayra in southern Jordan. The aim of the Busayra Cultural Heritage Project is to investigate how the settlement mediated regional and trans-regional networks during its height between the eighth and sixth centuries BCE. This paper integrates the evidence from research carried out in the 1970s with that recovered in the past decade. Emphasis is placed on excavations carried out in 2025 that focused on the Area A monumental building that has been interpreted as a temple. Evidence from this building provides insights into the ritual practices that promoted Busayra’s symbolic and ideological roles in long-distance networks.

Format: Online - pre-recorded
Author(s):

• Shota

  Tvaladze

  - The University of Georgia

The medieval period in Georgia (South Caucasus) was marked by sustained military conflict, largely driven by processes of territorial expansion. This persistent instability fostered the development of fortified architectural complexes intended to provide effective defense and long-term protection. Such structures were typically situated in strategically advantageous locations, allowing for the maximal of both defensive capacity and military control. Among these, Kvetera Fortress, dating to the 11th century and located in the historical region of Kakheti in eastern Georgia, overlooking the Ilto River, represents a significant example of medieval defensive architecture. The complex comprises two main components: an upper and a lower fortress. The upper fortress, covering approximately 3,500 m², formed the most secure and strategically critical part of the site. The lower fortress, extending over approximately 25,000 m², occupies the southern, southwestern, and northern slopes and is enclosed by robust defensive walls. Within the lower fortress are both ecclesiastical and secular buildings, as well as elements of a hydrological system, indicating the capacity of the complex to sustain a stability during prolonged sieges. These architectural features, together with the findings of archaeological and historical investigations, will be examined in the presentation within the broader context of medieval Georgia.

Format: In-Person
Author(s):

• Andrew

  Siebert

  - Alberta Classical Academy

The “Valley of 60 Towers”, or Khada Gorge, is situated just below the first major mountain pass leading north to Dariali pass - the iconic gates of the Alans separating north and south Caucasus. Adjacent to the Georgian Military highway described in literature by Tolstoy, Pushkin, and Lermontov, Khada gorge served as an important place of refuge for nobility during frequent nomadic incursions by Scythians, Huns, and Mongols. The remains of tower bases, with artifacts from recent survey trenches dated to Eneolithic, Early Bronze and late Kura-Araxes culture, also highlight contact between north and south Caucasus as a frequented waypoint for transhumance and cultural exchange. By sharing the material culture of lower Shida-Kartli plains fortresses at the beginning of kurgan culture, along with the dry stone masonry building techniques of the Javakheti plateau during the bronze age collapse, the valley of 60 towers is representative of Georgia’s mythic spirit of survival as a crossroads among competing empires.

This presentation will survey recent Khada gorge trench and isotope studies by Herrscher (2021), Georgian cultural heritage assessment and rescue archaeology, broader assessment of the Darial corridor as locus of cultural exchange by Sagona (2017) in light of genetic sequencing by Skourtanioti (2025).

Format: In-Person
Author(s):

• Levan

  Kvakhadze

  - The University of Georgia

Zakagori Fortress is a medieval fortified site and former village located in the Truso Valley of northern Georgia, situated on a high, hard-to-access mountain near the confluence of the Tergi and Suatisi rivers at approximately 2240 meters above sea level. The strategic location of the site at the upper entrance to the gorge indicates its historical role in controlling movement through this northern boundary zone and defending communication routes in the Caucasus.

This paper presents results from recent archaeological surveys and landscape analysis of Zakagori’s layout, architectural features, and spatial organization relative to the surrounding terrain. By integrating topographic assessment, architectural documentation, and material culture observations, the study reconstructs functional aspects of the fortress and its defensive strategy. Particular attention is paid to how natural topography and constructed fortifications combine to optimize visibility, control riverine corridors, and regulate access through the valley.

The findings suggest that Zakagori Fortress was not merely an isolated defensive point, but an integral component of a regional medieval defensive network. Placing Zakagori in the broader context of fortifications in the Caucasus enhances understanding of settlement organization, territorial control, and landscape use along key high-altitude routes.

Format: Online - pre-recorded
Author(s):

• Nikoloz

  Murgulia

  - Georgian National Museum

Nokalakevi, known as Archaeopolis in Byzantine sources, is located in Samegrelo (western Georgia, South Caucasus). The site played a pivotal role in the sixth-century conflicts between the Byzantine and Sasanian Empires. As one of the principal fortresses of Lazika (modern western Georgia), Nokalakevi–Archaeopolis formed part of a defensive network of forts and towers along the northeastern frontier of the Byzantine Empire, protecting the region from Sasanian Persian and Iberian (eastern Georgian) incursions. During the Lazic War (AD 540–562), the failure of Sasanian forces to capture the fortress from the Byzantines and their allies proved decisive, ultimately leading to the loss of Persian control over Lazika. The earliest surviving fortifications at the site date to the fourth century AD, with substantial strengthening in the fifth and major expansions in the sixth century, including the reconstruction of defenses around the eastern gate. These successive phases earned the site the designation “Fortress of Triple Walls” in Georgian chronicles. Archaeological investigations have revealed extensive remains, including 3 km of fortifications, 17 towers, six churches, two palaces, bathhouses, a military headquarters, a tunnel, and a water reservoir. This paper presents the site’s principal architectural features and recent archaeological findings.

Format: In-Person
Author(s):

• David

  Berikashvili

  - The University of Georgia, PHD

Medieval fortresses and fortified settlements constitute a pivotal component of the South Caucasus’ cultural heritage, embodying the region’s intricate political and urban trajectories.

Within this context, the archaeological complex of Samshvilde in southern Georgia offers a critical case study for examining the evolution and organization of medieval landscapes.

Despite its significance, the fortification system of Samshvilde has remained largely understudied, with limited understanding of its spatial organization, defensive strategies, and hydrological infrastructure.

Previous archaeological excavations, conducted over the past decade, have provided valuable but insufficient insights. The layout of the Samshvilde Citadel, in particular, was poorly understood, as it appeared to function as the site’s sole fortified element—a configuration atypical for medieval Caucasian urban centers —an impression reinforced by dense vegetation. 

To overcome these limitations, LiDAR survey was undertaken in summer 2024, documenting the citadel and its surroundings. The resulting data necessitate a significant reinterpretation of the site’s defensive network, revealing a complex system comprising two principal components and multiple towers.

This study underscores the potential of non-invasive methodologies to advance the analysis of medieval urban and military infrastructures in the region.