Dikha-Gudzuba
The Colchian Plain in Samegrelo, Georgia, features a unique archaeological landscape marked by the Dikha Gudzubas. These are not natural hills, but rather anthropogenic, or human-made, elevations. Excavations and surveys have revealed the presence of ancient settlements dating back to the Bronze Age. One of the earliest documented investigations of a Dikha Gudzuba settlement occurred in the 1930s.
In 1935-1936, archaeologist B. Kuftin focused his research on a Dikha Gudzuba situated near Anaklia, close to the mouth of the Enguri River. Kuftin's exploration involved trenching the central portion of the settlement, which revealed a stratigraphy with four distinct cultural layers. The Dikha Gudzuba itself stood approximately 2 meters high and was demarcated from its surroundings by a system of two moats. The most superficial layer yielded artifacts indicative of the Early Bronze Age (III-II centuries, BC). These included hand-molded ceramic vessels and remnants of metalworking activities, such as bronze casting molds and slag. The pottery assemblage from this period is characterized by its coarse, hand-formed nature, a greyish fired color, and a well-smoothed surface. Additionally, the presence of several thin-walled vessels is noteworthy.
Second and third layers belong to the Middle Bronze Age (XVIII-XV centuries BC). In these layers, the remains of wooden structures, richly ornamented clay vessels, a triangular-shaped flint arrowhead with a stalk and a segment-shaped sickle insert are noteworthy from the stone inventory. Important finds include a mould, an ornamented clay ball, and a pair of metal pins with zoomorphic heads.
Excavated materials from the Dikha Gudzubas settlements are currently curated within the collections of the Zugdidi Museum. Notably, the discovery of charred food remains holds particular significance. This assemblage includes various food items such as chestnuts, hazelnuts, acorns, leek grains, and cultivated grains like millet and wheat.
The emergence of zoomorphic (animal-shaped) vessels with ears in the ceramic production of the Colchian Plain during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age has long been a central topic of scholarly inquiry. Archaeological materials from Dikha Gudzubas provide crucial evidence, confirming the presence of the earliest examples of such vessels within Old Colchian ceramic production during the initial phase of the Late Bronze Age.
A three-year excavation project undertaken in 1985 at the Torsa-Dghvaba Dikha-Gudzuba site yielded a significant collection of Colchian artefacts, encompassing approximately 1200-1300 pieces. This assemblage included roughly 40 skulls, bronze statues depicting the primary Colchian goddesses, Colchian axes, three bull statues, implements for combat and daily activities, all dating to the Late Bronze Age period. The second phase of dedicated scientific and archaeological research on Dikha Gudzubas commenced in 2011 within the territory of Didnedze village, Zugdidi Municipality.
Another well-known Dikha Gudzuba site is located in the Supsa River Valley, within the Abasha (Abedati) region.