Samshvilde Through the Middle Ages: Geography, History, and Archaeology in the South Caucasus

Samshvilde was one of the most important political, economic, and military centers of medieval South Caucasia, located on the northern branch of the Silk Road. Its strategic geographical location and unique landscape attracted human settlement since prehistoric times. However, it was during the medieval period that Samshvilde played a particularly significant role in the South Caucasus and the wider regional context.

The presentation will provide an overview of the geography and history of Samshvilde, along with the archaeological and multidisciplinary research that has been conducted there in recent years, highlighting the site’s ongoing contribution to our understanding of medieval regional networks and cultural development.