Abstract
Caucasian Copper Age
The Caucasus region is dominated by the Caucasus mountains themselves. The Caucasian ridge is a main watershed, which divides the Caucasus into the two parts: northern and southern (or Transcaucasia). Owing to the natural conditions, the Caucasus is divided also into the West and East Caucasus. The former includes the Black sea and Azov sea basins, and the latter the Caspian sea basin. Altitude of the Caucasus varies between 28 m below sea level and 5,642 m above sea level. Over one half of this region is occupied by highlands and mountainous plateaus. The mountains are volcanic in origin and are rich in flint, ores (including copper and gold), and minerals. The South Caucasus is very rich in obsidian. Rivers, draining mountain runoff, create rich alluvial plains to the north and south of the main ranges.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
Suggested Readings
Chataigner, Christine (1995). La Transcaucasie au Neolithique et au Chalcolithique. Oxford: BAR International Series G24.
Chernykh, Evgenii N. (1992). Ancient Metallurgy in the USSR. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Japaridze, Otar M. (1989). On the Rise of Ethnocultural History of Caucasus (in Russian). Tbilisi: Tbilisi University Press.
Kiguradze, Tamaz (2000). “The Chalcolithic-Early Bronze Transitionin the Eastern Caucasus. In Chronologies des pays du Caucase et de l'Euphrate aux IVe-IIIe millenaires: Actes de colloque d'Instanbul,16-19 Decembere 1998, ed. C. Marro and H. Hauptmann. Paris: Acta Anatolica XI, 312-318.
Kushnareva, Karine Kh. (1997). The Southern Caucasus in Prehistory. Philadelphia: University Museum Monograph 39.
Munchaev, Rauf M. (1975). Kavkaz na Zare Bronzovogo Veka (Caucasus at the rise of the bronze age). Moscow: Nauka.
Munchaev, Rauf M. (1982). “Eneolit Kavkaza” (Chalcolithic of Caucasus) In Eneolit SSSR (Chalcolithic of the USSR), ed. V. M.Masson and N. I. Merpert. Moscow: Nauka, 93-164.
Narimanov, Ideal H. (1987). Kultura Drevneishego Zemledelchesko-Skotovodcheskogo Naselenia Azerbaijana (The Culture of EarlyFarming and Cattle-Breeding Ancient Inhabitants of Azerbaijan).Baku: Elm.
References
Bendukidze, Oleg (1979). (The Fauna of the Holocene Vertebrates of Georgia). Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Russian, English summary).
Formozov, Alexander A. (1975). (Stone and Copper Age of the Kuban River Basin). Moscow: Nauka. (In Russian).
Janelidze, Chichiko P. (1984). (On the Reconstruction of the Environment of Early Farming Culture of Eastern Georgia). In Human and Its Environment. Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Russian).
Javakhishvili, Gaioz I. (1971). (On the History of the Early FarmingCulture of Western Transcaucasia). Ph.D. diss., Tbilisi: Tbilisi University Press. (In Russian).
Kalandadze, Karlo (1994). (Tetri Mgvime: White cave). Tbilisi:Metsniereba. (In Georgian, Russian and English summaries).
Kikvidze, Iason A. (1988). (Agriculture and Agricultural Cults in Ancient Georgia). Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Russian).
Kvavadze, Eliso V., and P. Luara Rukhadze (1989). (Vegetation and Climate of the Holocene in Abkhazia). Tbilisi: Mertsniereba. (In Russian, English summary).
Lisitsina, Gorislava N., and V. Ludmila Prishchepenko (1977). (Paleoethnobotanical Remains' Finds of the Caucasus and Near East). Moscow: Nauka. (In Russian).
Maruashvili, Levan (1969). (Physical Geography of Georgia). Tbilisi: Tbilisi University Press. (In Georgian).
Munchaev, Rauf M. (1982). “Eneolithic of Caucasus”. In Eneolith of USSR, ed. V. Masson and M. Merpert Moscow: Nauka, 100-164.
Nebieridze, Lamara D. (1978). (Darkveti Multilayer Rock-Shelter). Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Georgian, Russian summary).
Nebieridze, Lamara D. (1986). (Early stages of development of Western Transcaucasian Early Farming Culture). Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Georgian, Russian summary).
Pkhakadze, Guranda G. (1992). “Chalcolithic Culture in Western Georgia.” In Archaeology in Georgia, 2, ed., O. Japaridze. Tbilisi:Metsniereba. (In Georgian).
Pkhakadze, Guranda G. (1993). (The Western Transcaucasus in the III Mill. B.C.). Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Georgian, Russian and English summaries).
Vysotskaya, Tatiana N. (1963). “Sites of Vorontsov cave.” In Materials for Georgian and Caucasian Archaeology, 3, ed., A. Apakidze. Tbilisi: Academy Press. (In Russian).
Aliev, Namik G. (1991). “Late Chalcolithic Sites of Azerbaijan.” Ph.D. diss.. Institute of Archaeology, Leningrad.
Arazova, Roza (1999). “Trasological study of stone implements from early agricultural settlements of Azerbaijan.” Azerbaijan Archaeology, 1, 1-2. Baku: Khazar University Press, 20-23 (In Russian).
Bendukidze, Oleg G. (1979). (The fauna of the Holocene vertebrates of Georgia). Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Georgian, Russian summary).
Chikovani, Guram Ch. (1999). “Shida kartli in V-IV mill, B.C.” Ph.D. diss., Tbilisi: Center for Archaeological Research Publication. (In Russian, English summary).
Gadjiev, Mahomed G. (1991). (Early Agricultural Culture of Northeast Caucasus). Moscow: Nauka. (In Russian).
Gogelia, David D., and M. Lydia Chelidze (1992). “Eneolithic.” In Archaeology of Georgia, 2. Tbilisi: Metsniereba, 17-69. (In Georgian).
Gogichaishvili, Liana K. (1984). “Vegetation of Holocene in the lowland and footheel of Kvemokartli.” In Human and Its Environment. Tbilisi: Metsniereba, 11-15. (In Russian).
Javakhishvili, Alexander I. (1998). “Aus Grabungen in Berikldeebi (Shida Kartli).” In Georgica, Heft 21. Konstanz: Universitatsverlag Konstanz, 7-20.
Kiguradze, Tamaz B. (2000). “The Chalcolithic-Early Bronze Age Transition in the eastern Caucasus.” In From the Euphrates to the Caucasus: Chronologies for the 4th-3rd Millenium B.C., Actes du colloque d'Instanbul, 16-19 Decembre 1998 C. Marro and H. Hauptmann, ed. Paris: Varia Anatolica XI, 321-328.
Kipiani, Guram. (1997). “Berikldeebi: The fence walls and temple.” In Bulletin of Georgian State Museum 42-B. Tbilisi: Metsniereba, 13-57 (In Georgian).
Kvavadze, Eliso V., and P. Luara Rukhadze (1989). (Vegetation and Climate of the Holocene in Abkhazia). Tbilisi: Mertsniereba. (In Russian, English summary).
Lisitsina, Gorislava N., and V. Ludmila Prishchepenko (1977). (Paleoethnobotanical Remains' Finds of Caucasus and Near East). Moscow: Nauka. (In Russian).
Maruashvili, Levan (1981). (Physical geography of Caucasus). Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Georgian).
Menabde, Medea, and B. Tamaz Kiguradze (1981). (Archaeological sites of Sioni). Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Georgian, Russian summary).
Narimanov, Ideal H. (1987). “The culture of Earliest Farming and Stock-Breeding Population of Azerbaijan.” Baku: Elm. (In Russian, English summary).
Torosian, Rafik M. (1976). (The Early Agricultural Settlements of Tekhut [IV millenium B.C.]). Erevan: Academia Publishing House. (In American, Russian sumary).
Varazashvili, Vazha V. (1992). (Early Farming Culture of lori-Alazani Basin). Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Russian, English summary).
Vekua, Abesalom (1992). (“Stock-Breeding and Hunting of Chalcolithic tribes of Eastern Georgia.” In Appendix to V. Vazha Varazashvili. (Early Farming Culture of lori-Alazani Basin). Tbilisi: Metsniereba, 96-100.
Arazova, Rosa B. (1974). “Chalcolithic age stone implements from Azerbaijan.” Ph.D. diss., Baku. (In Russian)
Kiguradze, Tamaz (1986). Neolithische Siedlungen von Kwemo-Kartli, Georgien. Munich: C. H. Beck Verlag. (In German)
Mahmudov, Farman, and Ideal Narimanov (1972). “On the excavations at Alikemektepesi settlement.” Archaeological Discoveries in 1971. Moscow: Nauka. (In Russian)
Mahmudov, Farman, and Ideal Narimanov (1974). “Alikemektepesi Excavations.” Archaeological and Ethnographical Investigations in Azerbaijan in 1973. Baku: Elm. (In Russian)
Mahmudov, Farman, and Ideal Narimanov (1976). “Mugan Expedition Excavations.” Archaeological Discoveries in 1975. Moscow: Nauka. (In Russian)
Maruashvili, Levan (1981). (Physical Geography of Caucasus, part 2). Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Georgian, Russian summary)
Munchaev, Rauf M. (1982). “Chalcolithic of Caucasus.” In Eneolithic (Chalcolithic) of the USSR, ed. V. M. Masson and N. I. Merper. Moscow: Nauka. (In Russian)
Narimanov, Ideal H. (1987). (The earliest culture of farming and stockbreeding population of Azerbaijan). Baku: Elm. (In Russian, English summary)
Glonti, Lili, and Alexander Javakhishvili (1987). “New data on the multilayer site of Eneolithic-Late Bronze period of the Shida Kartli.” Proceedings of the Institute of Archaeology. Moscow: Nauka, 192. (In Russian)
Glonti, Lili, Guram Nemsadze, and Alexander Javakhishvili (1986). “Report on Excavations of 1979-1981, in Berikldeebi, Kareli District).” In Archaeological Expeditions of the Georgian State Museum, 8c Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Georgian, Russian summary)
Javakhishvili Alexander (1998). “Ausgrabungen in Berikldeebi (Shida Kartli.” Georgica, Heft 21. Constanz: Universitatsverlag Konstanz.
Kipiani, Guram (1997). “Berikldeebi: The Fence and the Chapel.” Bulletin of State Museum of Georgia, XLII-B. Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Georgian)
Maruashvili, Levan (1970). (Physical geography of Georgia). Tbilisi: Tbilisi University Press. (In Georgian)
Gajiev, Magomed G. (1991). (The Early Farming Culture of Northeast Caucasus). Nauka: Moscow. (In Russian)
Munchaev, Rauf M. (1982). “The eneolithic of the Caucasus.” In The Eneolithic of USSR, ed. V. M. Masson and N. J. Merpert. Nauka: Moscow, 93-164. (In Russian)
Aliev, Namik G. (1991). “Late Chalcolithic sites of Azerbaijan.” Ph.D. diss.. Institute of Archaeology, Leningrad. (In Russian).
Kiguradze, Tamaz (1998). “Tradition from Chalcolithic to Early Bronze age in eastern Transcaucasus.” In Proceedings of Conference of Caucasian Archaeology. Tbilisi: Nekeri Publishing House. (In Georgian and Russian)
Maruashvili, Levan (1981). (Physical geography of Caucasus, Part Two). Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Georgian, Russian summary)
Narimanov, Ideal H. (1987). (The Culture of Earliest Farming and Stock-Breeding Population of Azerbaijan). Baku: Elm. (In Russian, English summary)
Javakhishvili, Gaioz I. (1971). “On the History of Early Farming Culture of Western transcaucasus.” Ph.D. diss. Tbilisi: Tbilisi University Press. (In Russian)
Kalandadze, Karlo (1994). (Tetri cave). Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Georgian, Russian and English summaries)
Maruashvili, Levan (1970). (Physical geography of Georgia). Tbilisi: Tbilisi University Press. (In Georgian)
Pkhakadze, Guranda (1992). “Chalcolithic and Early Bronze age in Western Georgia.” In Archaeology of Georgia, 2. Tbilisi: Metsniereba. (In Georgian)
Gogelia, David, and Lidia Chelidze (1992). “Eneolithic.” In Archaeology of Georgia, 2.
Japaridze, Otar M. (1989). (On the rise of ethnocultural history). Tbilisi: Tbilisi University Press.
Maruashvili, Levan (1970). (Physical geography of Georgia). Tbilisi: Tbilisi University Press. (In Georgian)
Menabde, Medea, and Tamaz Kiguradze (1977). “Results of Kvemo-Kartli Archaeological Expedition, 1974-1975.” In Archaeological Expeditions of State Museum of Georgia, 5. Tbilisi: Metsniereba, 22-42. (In Georgian, Russian summary)
Menabde, Medea, and Tamaz Kiguradze (1986). “Results of Kvemo-Kartli Archaeological Expedition, 1980-1981.” In Archaeological Expeditions of State Museum of Georgia, 8. Tbilisi: Metsniereba, 17-28. (In Georgian, Russian summary)
Aliev, Namik H. (1991). “Late Eneolithic sites in Azerbaijan.” Abstract of Ph.D. diss. Leningrad.
Javakhishvili, Alexander (1998). “Ausgrabungen in Berikldeebi (Shida Kartli).” Georgica 21: 7-20.
Munchaev, Rauf M. (1982). “The Eneolithic of the Caucasus.” In The Eneolithic of USSR, ed. by V. M. Masson and N. J. Merpert. Nauka: Moscow, 93-164. (In Russian)
Selimkhanov, Isa R., and Rafik M. Torosian (1966). “On the Definition of the Eneolithic in Armenian.” Journal of History and Philology 1: 305-308. (In Russian)
Torosian, Rafik M. (1978). (The Early Agricultural Settlement at Tekhuta). Academy of Sciences of Armenia. Erevan. (In Armenian with Russian summary)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kiguradze, T. (2001). Caucasian Chalcolithic. In: Peregrine, P.N., Ember, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Prehistory. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1187-8_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1187-8_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-7131-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-1187-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive