Unique ancient settlement and burial site found in Georgia

Leading Georgian and foreign archaeologists will join forces to study an ancient settlement and the largest burial mound ever found in Georgia.

The National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia (NACHPG) last week revealed the discovery of an ancient settlement on the Iori riverbank in the east of Georgia.

Located in Kakheti region, the settlement’s remains were found next to a Bronze Age burial mound. The NACHPG later released aerial footage of the site.

See the aerial footage of the remains of an ancient settlement and burial mound discovered in eastern Georgia below:

The ancient settlement sprawls across 25,000 square metres and features traces of walls reaching 1 - 1.2 metres in thickness.

Located to the east of the remains is a burial mound 115 meters in diameter and 20 meters in height, making it the largest of its kind ever discovered in Georgia.

Archaeologists said the walls of the settlement had been damaged by a "strong fire”.

The remains of the settlement feature traces of buildings of various sizes. Screenshot from video footage of the site.

The experts also revealed items and materials discovered via a "surface study” of the site including clay bassanite, painted fragments of ancient dishes and sharpening stones.

General Director of the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation, Nikoloz Antidze, told Imedi TV the settlement and mound represent a "unique discovery”.

Antidze said his organisation would soon open talks with "leading international archaeological institutions” to begin examining the site later this year.