Tsitsamuri

Tsitsamuri, a historically significant site near Mtskheta, Georgia, offers a glimpse into the ancient past with its ruins of an acropolis of ancient Iberia. Identified by Andria Apakidze in 1953, the site aligns with the Zaden-tsikhe fortress from medieval Georgian chronicles, highlighting its defensive significance. Overlooking the site is Mount Zedazeni, which later became the location of a Christian monastery, suggesting a transition from pagan to Christian worship. A necropolis dating from the 1st century BCE to the 2nd century CE reveals burial practices and artifacts such as a bronze batillum and an Italic oenochoe, indicating cultural interactions. The archaeological significance of Tsitsamuri lies in its rich layers of history, showcasing defensive, religious, and funerary structures that span across crucial historical periods.