Georgia: Sakhdrisi Committee for Cultural Heritage is launching a new cognitive project, “Georgian Discoveries of World Importance”.
Among the unique archaeological discoveries made in Georgia, the golden lion statue, which belongs to the Mtkvar-Araksi culture spread in the South Caucasus, occupies a prominent place.
The golden figure of a lion was discovered in the luxurious ancient tomb near Tsnori in 1974, during the ongoing excavations led by archaeologist Konstantine (Kiazo) Pitskhelauri in the Alazani Valley in Kakheti.
It dates back to the second half of the 3rd millennium B.C. and is considered an outstanding example of the Early Bronze Age goldsmithing culture. This work of art proves once again that goldsmithing culture was highly developed in the Middle Bronze Age on Georgian territory.
The figure is considered to be the decoration of the funeral carriage. Scientists suggest that the lion motif itself, as well as the funeral carriage phenomenon, must have come from pre-Asia. Neither in terms of the type of statue nor the decoration is there an analogue of the lion figure outside of Georgia.
Two more gold items, cutlery and other jewellery found in the area of the funeral carriage indicate the high social status of the person buried in the tomb in which the lion was found.
The figure of a lion is preserved in the National Museum of Georgia.
The historian and archaeologist who discovered the “Golden Lion” is Konstantine Pitskhelauri. Several unique archaeological discoveries are connected to his scientific activity.
Sakdrisi Committee for Cultural HeritageÂ
Sakdrisi was established in March 2014. At this time, a gold manufacturing company named Rich Metal Group—RMG decided to seize control over Sakdrisi Gold Mine, which is recognized as a Cultural Heritage and one of the oldest gold mines in the world, dating back almost 5,000 years. RMG started the gold recovery process.Â
By this time, the Georgian Government’s position regarding RMG’s illegal actions was unclear. This was the longest act of protest in Georgia’s history. Groups of volunteers—protectors of Sakdrisi—were named the Sakdrisi Survival Committee.
