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TBILISI, 11 Feb - Sputnik. The National Museum of Georgia denied information about the alleged loss of elements of antique gold jewelry, the so-called. "turtle necklace", discovered by archaeologists on the territory of the ancient settlement of Van and dated to the 5th century BC. e.

This is an adornment of great value from the point of view of the history of Georgia and, in particular, of the ancient Colchis kingdom. The necklace is adorned with 31 turtle-shaped elements and 94 gold balls.

The "turtle necklace" scandal erupted last week in the Georgian segment of the social network Facebook. It was alleged that 12 turtles from the necklace mysteriously disappeared and are currently "cynically and impudently" sold in France on classified ads for 120 thousand euros. Moreover, according to the spread of information, he is selling elements of an antique necklace of the wife of the former head of the Department of Constitutional Security of Georgia, Soso Topuridze, Lela Topuridze.

The National Museum of Georgia said that "this information does not correspond to reality." In addition, it turned out that rumors about the missing items from this necklace began long ago. It turns out that in 2011 the media also spread information that 12 balls worth $ 10 million were missing from the "turtle necklace".

"Taking into account the high interest, by the decree of the Minister of Culture and Monuments Protection of Georgia, in 2013, an" Temporary Commission for the Study of the Issues of the Removal-Bring of Exhibits from the National Museum of Georgia "in 2004-2012 was established, which was staffed with highly professional industry specialists. In the conclusion received as a result of the work of the commission, we read: "After the commission examined the accompanying documentation for the exhibits, the conditions for their storage and protection and their visual state, it was established that all the exhibits are in place and their authenticity is beyond doubt," the statement says. museum.

The National Museum also publishes photographs of the exhibit taken at the Frankfurt Museum in October 2018. As noted in the museum, the necklace, which is an exhibit of the permanent exhibition in the Museum. S. Janashia, at this time can be seen on display at the Liebeghaus Museum in Frankfurt am Main. The exhibition is timed to coincide with the International Frankfurt Book Fair, where Georgia was presented as an honored guest.

After the completion of the above exhibition, from March 5, the so-called. The "turtle necklace" can again be seen in Tbilisi.

Vani, the place where the necklace was discovered, was the center of Ancient Colchis. Today it is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Georgia. Over the years, archaeologists in the vicinity of the settlement have found the remains of an ancient city (VI century BC) - a defensive structure, cultural complexes, rich burials and many other artifacts.

Vanya has consistently been in the spotlight of the international scientific community. One of the most successful archaeological expeditions carried out in Vani in the 80s of the last century was excavations led by Professor Otar Lortkipanidze. It was then that a gold turtle necklace was discovered, as well as other gold jewelry, many of which became a brand of Georgia.

The funds of the National Museum of Georgia store thousands of rare and valuable gold exhibits, chronologically demonstrating the culture and history of the country from ancient times. Among them - a treasure from Akhalgori (V BC), containing unique examples of jewelry that combined the style of decorative and applied art of Achaemenid Iran and local tradition, unique collections of coins, medieval samples of gold forging and much more.