Archaeological Excavations at Irmis Rka: An Investigation of a Multi-Layered Settlement in Southwest Georgia

This volume presents the results of the 2020 season excavations conducted by the Georgian National Museum at the multi-layered settlement of Irmis Rka, located in the Samtskhe-Javakheti province in southwest Georgia. Excavations on the site have confirmed the presence of pits and domestic architecture from the Early Bronze Age Kura-Araxes Culture, as well as deposits of the subsequent Bedeni Culture, along with abundant related materials. The site reveals signs of occupation during the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age, with evidence of fortification and various artefacts. Additionally, medieval activities have been documented. The site demonstrates the full evolution of the Kura-Araxes tradition, offering perspectives to illustrate its gradual changes and development. One of the site's most significant aspects is the presence of the Bedeni culture, marking its first appearance in this area. While excavations at Irmis Rka are ongoing, the results presented here contribute new data to a wide range of discussions.

Gia Chilingarashvili a PhD candidate at Tbilisi State University and a researcher at the O. Lortkipanidze Archaeological Institute of the Georgian National Museum. With 12 years experience in international archaeological expeditions and projects, his main field of study is late prehistoric cultures in the Caucasus region. He has directed excavations at the Irmis Rka settlement for four seasons. He has published several articles independently and with co-authors in Georgian and English.

Levan Losaberidze is an archaeologist and rock art researcher with a Master's degree in archaeology. With over 10 years of experience in archaeological fieldwork and various investigations, his main interests lie in landscape archaeology, rock art, and Neolithic-Bronze Age archaeological cultures in the South Caucasus.

He has been fully involved in the Irmis Rka project for four years both in the fieldwork and post-excavation studies. In general, he has published several international peer-reviewed papers about various topics of his interests.