Europe

High in the rugged peaks of the South Caucasus, archaeologists have uncovered the sprawling remnants of a forgotten civilization that thrived for millennia. A new study published in Antiquity by the Samtskhe-Javakheti Archaeological Project has documented 168 ancient sites across the highlands of southern Georgia, including cyclopean fortresses, multi-phase settlements, and extensive necropolises. These findings fundamentally shift our understanding of Bronze Age and Iron Age society in the region, revealing a complex network of communities that mastered life in extreme high-altitude environments. For decades, the Samtskhe-Javakheti region was a blank spot on archaeological maps. The harsh climate and difficult terrain of the Javakheti Plateau, which sits at elevations between 1,500 and 3,300 meters, discouraged extensive historical investigation. Since 2017, however