The Genetic History of the South Caucasus from the Bronze Age to the Early Middle Ages

Sample_id: DZN005
Location: Dzhinvali, Dusheti Municipality, Shida Kartli, Georgia
Biological Age: Male, 20-25
Archeological Age: 300-600 AD
YDNA:G-M406>FGC5089>FGC5081>Y2724>L14> S19451>FGC5185>Y92117*
MtDNA: T2g1a
Coverage:
Global25:
Grave No: 1829, Grave N3
(Buried with Female 1830 - 18-20 years-old).

Supplemental Information from:
The Genetic History of the South Caucasus...
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2024/06/13/2024.06.11.597880/DC1/embed/media-1.xlsx?download=true

Zhinvali (DZN)
A) General Location and Chronology: Zhinvali (42.109804, 44.770221) is at the narrowest point of the Aragvi Canyon. A township in Georgia, located in the Dusheti municipality, on the right bank of the Aragvi River, along the Georgian Military Road. 

B) Excavation history and description of burials: In 1974, in the village of Zhinvali, a multi-layered cemetery (area XXV) extending on the slope on the right bank of Aragvi was discovered. Twenty-five graves were unearthed, of which seven were empty. The burial ground consisted of usual pit tombs, pit tombs covered with stone slabs, and catacombs. Chronologically, the tombs are divided into two main chronological groups: the first group mainly dates to the 2nd-3rd centuries, and the second to the 4th-6th centuries AD. It is also possible to single out a section of tombs that belongs to the transition period from the Late Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages (3rd-4th centuries AD). The stone tombs and catacombs of the Early Middle Ages were constructed under Christian burial customs and rites. 

In Late Antiquity and the transition period, the primary burial type is individual tombs. However, a burial of two individuals buried in a contracted position was also found. The orientation varies, but the graves with the head to the west or southwest prevail. Family tombs in the Early Middle Ages became common, and the dead were predominantly buried in Christian traditions. The inventory of the Late Antiquity group of tombs (N1, 5, 18, 22) includes clay vessels, jewelry, and an iron ring with a Greek inscription of 'Bakur-I' on the intaglio. Interestingly, this name is confirmed in Georgian and foreign written sources and seems widespread between the 2nd and 4th centuries. 

From 1974 to 1975, the archaeological expedition of Zhinvali continued to excavate the "Nakalakari '' burial ground (district III). The excavations were carried out inside and outside of two churches. The discovered tombs are similar to the previously studied tombs in terms of structure, burial rite, and inventory but date back to the 11th-14th centuries. Ninety-eight tombs from this burial ground have been studied, represented by pit tombs, cist graves, charnel houses, and tombs with built-up walls. The skeleton was found in an extended position in one pit burial 1.7 m long and 0.5 m wide. There are numerous cist graves (e.g., N159, 161, 173, 181, 201, 221, 231). Tombs with built-up walls (e.g., N 171, 178, 187, 218, 220, 228) contained three to ten individuals, and the charnel houses seven to twenty-one individuals. The burial goods included clay urns, one-eared and earless small cups, fragments of glass vessels, bracelets, buttons, beads, ring eye, arrowheads, earrings, rings, pendants, buttons, hooks, and mirrors. 

Between 1977 and 1985, about 5.42 km2 of ancient territory was unearthed, revealing about 558 burials dating to c. 1st century BC-8th century AD, numerous settlements of the first half of the first millennium AD, a wine cellar of the 2nd century BC, and some other monuments. The numerous graves were of various types: pit (ground) burials with stone and earth embankments and jar burials, typical of the Late Antique period. In contrast, catacombs and ground burials belong to the Early Medieval period. 

The burial customs attested at the Zhinvali cemetery were Christian. However, some exceptions also occur: while in most catacombs, skeletons were buried in a stretched position, in some (n=13), the skeletons were found in a crouched posture. All the catacombs of the cemetery have been discovered at a depth of 1.80 – 3.4 m and were oriented from west to east. First, a vertical pit of circular shape was dug out for their construction, and then the vaulted burial chamber was erected; usually, the pits of the catacombs were filled with coble-stones, and burial chambers were plastered with mortar and surrounded by stone circles. Almost all the catacombs contained collective burials (2-10 individuals), except for four, where single burials were discovered. Grave goods in the catacombs consisted of numerous bracelets, earrings, beads, etc. It should be noted that attachments to clothing (belt buckles, fibulae, buttons, etc.) have not been found, which makes us think that the deceased were wrapped in a piece of cloth, remnants of which were discovered almost in every burial. Burial inventory is similar to the archaeological material found at numerous sites of East Georgia and dates to the 4th-5th centuries AD. In addition, a group of pit tombs which are covered with flat stone slabs dates to the period of transition from paganism to Christianity and have also been identify in the other cemeteries beyond Zhinvali, like Aragvispiri and Akhali Zhinvali. 

The material obtained by the archaeological research clearly indicates the strength of the point in the place of Zhinvali. A joint analysis of archaeological materials shows that the settlement expanded throughout Late Antiquity and the Early Medieval periods. Special attention is paid to the ordinary tombs of the Late Antiquity period, which contain a lot of objects related to urban existence: ship seals, glass medallions with Sasanian scenes, and other jewelry. Overall, the Late Antiquity burial ground of Zhinvali has many analogies in terms of structure, burial rite, and the construction of the burial complexes to those of Armaziskhevi, Mtskheta, Ertso Valley, Urbnisi, and other cemeteries, all of which were part of Kartli at its the early stage of feudalization during the first century AD.

The two burial sites, Zhinvali and Aragvispiri, are closely related in terms of the level and manner of artistic decoration of individual objects, stylistic features, and the burial ritual. They also show structural and content similarities with sites including Armazi, Zghuderi, Ertso, Bori, the respective complexes of Ureki, Kldeeti, and others. Upon analyzing the obtained material, it is evident that a group of silver vessels from New Zhinvali and Aragvispiri share a stylistic unity and are closely related to the Mtskheta matches.

See also: MORPOLOGICAL AND GENETICAL POLYMORPHISM OF GEORGIA’S LATE ANTIQUE-EARLY MIDDLE AGES POPULATION
Published: Tavartkiladze2023

http://www.sciencejournals.ge/index.php/HAE/article/view/238/204

English Translation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sHHZkA8pDZzdcFMb46DOhCnPYv_5NRo-/view?usp=sharing

Sample_id: KIM002
Location: Khimshiant, Kakheti Region, Georgia
Biological Age: Male ?
Archeological Age: 100-400 AD
YDNA: G-M406>Y2724>Z17887>Z17886>Z37368*
MtDNA:N1a2
Coverage:
Global25:
Grave No: MMKPH15, Grave 42

Supplemental Information from:
The Genetic History of the South Caucasus...
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2024/06/13/2024.06.11.597880/DC1/embed/media-1.xlsx?download=true

Khimshiaantmitsebi (KIM)
A) General Location and Chronology: The site (41.7774711, 45.7671037) is located in the southwest of the homοnymous village, on the left bank of the Aragvi River. The cemetery found at this site is multi-layered and covers a wide range of time periods, from the 5th millennium BC to the 6th century AD. 

B) Excavation history and description of burials: In 1984-86, excavations were carried out by the archaeological expedition of Zhinvali under Ramin Ramishvili. The lower layer dates back to the 5th millennium BC and includes fragments of ceramics, flint, and obsidian, and other materials. 

The next layer dates from the end of the 4th millennium BC and the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. During excavation, five pit burials, twenty-six ritual pits, and six small hearth-altars, similar to the earlier so-called cylindrical hearths were discovered. The pits and hearths contained fragments of pottery from the Kura-Araxi culture, bone and stone products. The skeletons were mostly flexed on the left or right side. Burial goods consist of a clay net, a bone crucible, and barrel-shaped paste beads. 

Nine tombs of the Middle Bronze Age were excavated at a depth of 1.4-2.15 meters from the ground surface in the cemetery. These tombs date back to the second quarter of the 2nd millennium BC. Out of the nine tombs, four are of the catacomb type, and five are cist graves buried under barrows. Only one of the catacombs contained a deceased person, whose skeleton 23.  was found in a flexed position on the left side with the head oriented to the southeast. The other three burials were cenotaphs, in which one or two sheep skeletons were found with obsidian growths around their necks. The most abundant burial goods that were recovered from these catacombs were ceramics. Reddish brown ware decorated with combed geometric ornament and warty cups were found. The jewelry discovered consisted of bronze studs with sardine heads, sardines, and beads of various shapes and sizes. The skeletons found in the cist graves were tightly flexed, lying on the right or left side, with the head oriented towards the northwest and southeast. In these tombs, black-glossy clay vessels with pink handles, which were characteristic of the Trialeti culture, were found. Other items discovered included a bronze lancet with a stem, buckles, sardines, paste, and plaster beads. 

Nineteen tombs date back to the 15th - 13th centuries BC. The tombs were made of small, semi-circular stones. The skeletons were on their right side, in a tightly flexed position. There was also a type of secondary burial where the skeletons were placed on any side. One of the tombs was found with the deceased buried with a horse. Burial goods of this tomb mainly consisted of ceramics. 

Three pit burials and several pits, dated back to the 3rd - 4th centuries AD, were found to contain a gold ring, a gold earring, a silver earring, a rosette, beads, a bronze ring, sardine and glass beads, among other objects. 

Nine tombs from the 4th to 6th centuries were excavated in the cemetery. The tombs are oriented from east to west. Seven of these tombs contain the remains of individuals buried under Christian rule. In the other two tombs, the deceased were found lying on their sides in a flexed position, with their heads oriented to the west. Out of the nine burials, only four contained gold and silver earrings as burial goods, while the remaining five were without any burial goods.