Curved Sided Bronze Axe from the Purtio Village

Abstract

One of the significant sources for the study of the history and material culture of Southwestern Georgia, specifically Ajara, in the Early Bronze Age is accidental finds. Among them is the bronze curve sided axe discovered in the Purtio village, Shuakhevi Municipality, in 2012.
The closest similar axe of the Purtio axe is found in Ghorjomi village (Naomari) (Upper Ajara, Khulo district). Besides, we notice some similarities with the axes accidentally discovered on the border of the villages of Ilumi and Bori (Kharagauli district, Imereti), in Sazano and Seiri (Terjoli district, Imereti). It is found in one of the dolmens of Esher as well. As for in eastern Georgia - in Mejvriskhevi and Kizil-Ajlo. In the North Caucasus - in the materials of Ossetia and Kortsa. It is found in Sochi and Kuban too.
It is acknowledged that the curved sides and holed handle axes originated in Transcaucasia. From there they spread to several countries. On the way of their spread, local blacksmiths created local variants by refining the forms and introducing new technical innovations. Some scholars emphasizes that a Caucasian variant of axes was formed in Georgia, which began to spread in the North Caucasus, Europe and the Danube region.
The axes of Purtio and Naomari discovered on the territory of Ajara differ from the axes aforementioned in the relief ridges on the handle and are moderately later.
Based on the classification, we include the Purtio axe in the II group of the short-flanged – curved sided axes, considering the similarities and dating it to the second half of the III millennium BC.