Velikii Pitiunt. Tom 2.

418 S. mit zahlreichen Zeichnungen und Fotos plus 611 Abbildungen im Tafelteil. In russischer Sprache / Schrift; auch tls. englisch. // Aus der Bibliothek von Prof. Dr. Wolfram Kleiss, langjährigem Leiter der Außenstelle Teheran des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts. Die georgische Stadt Pizunda/Pitsunda/Bitschwinta in Abchasien wurde in der Antike von Griechen als Pitious ho Megas gegündet und gehörte dann als Pitius/Pitiunt zum Königrech Pontos sowie lange Zeit als Standort der Legio XV Apollinaris zum Römischen Reich (Wikipedia). Der vorliegende Band ist Teil 2 von 3. Text georgisch mit ausführlicher Zusammenfassung auf Englisch. // The Great Pitiunt Archeoiogical Discoveries in Pitsunia The second volume, , as well as the first one consists of two parts. The first part includes the reports on archeoiogical expeditions and disco-veries, the second - many different archeoiogical monuments found during 20 years of field excavations. The first part contains the following works: 1O Reports on field excavations of 1970 - 1971 (A.M.Apakidze, Z.VoAgrba) 2a Reports on excavations of 1972 (A.M.Apakidze) 3. Field investigations of 1973 (A.M.Apakidze) 40 Results of excavations on the VII archeoiogical site (OXoGamba- shidze) 5, Reports on excavations carried out on the IV archeological site (V.Tolordava) 6. Church complex of the Great Pitiunt (I.N.Tsitsishvili) 1, In August and September of 1970-1971 archeoiogical excavations and reconnaissance were carried out on the Cape Pitsunda territory, on Akhashnikh Hill, particularly in the settlement of Alahadzi, on the territory of the Great Pitiunt. Akhashnikh Hill became the main object of investigation during this period, as there were found the ruins of a big temple. This, rather unique monument distinguishes among the other cult constructions by its big, embracing all three naves. The temple's apsis is faceted from outside. Well-finished stones were used as building material, , (limestone.san-dstone) as well as cobblestone, bricks and tiles. Ceramic box-blocks, square or somewhat extended, found in masonry, are of particular interest. One side of such box is usually open. The box was filled with whitewash and used as building material though it was not destined for it. The absence of archeoiogical materials makes it difficult to date this multistrata temple. If taking into consideration the building materials (bricks and tiles - well-known in early-feudal monuments found in Pitsun= da) and mixed masonry (opus mixtum) so typical for early Byzantine con= structions, the temple should previously be dated to the early-feudal period. Thus, the VI-VIII cc. should be considered as conditional dates for the ancient stratum of the monument. Minor excavations were carried out within the townfortress on the X archeological site. There were found the following things: the foundation of a multi-room building, fragments of flat brick - typical for Pitsunda fragments … Probably the Temple was destroyed again in 542 by Roman Emperor Hosro's invasion. At any rate, Pitsunda loses its political and trade influence, still being the centre of Christianity. The eraction of a big temple at the edge of X-XI centuries proves it; The second part of the book contains archeological materials found during 20 years of excavation. Here are the works devoted to a big amount of: 7. Redpainted ceramics (L.B.Asatiani); 8.Building ceramic materials (G.A. Apakidze); 9. Lamps (N.Sh.Kiguradze); 10. Late Roman and Byzantine coins (I.Sh.Tsukhishvili); Bullas (G.F.Dundua); The results of building cerarrTc examination by archeomagnetic method (Z.A.Chelidze); and Bone materials (N.N.Gamrekeli). 7. Red-painted ceramics of Pitsunda are different by their forms. Clay used for this purpose is pink-red or yellowish colour after firing and mixed with mica and lime particles. The painting colour varies from light-red to brown and orange'. There is a large group of basins varied by their shape and size: deep or low, without marked edging or with a slightly turned back one, having straight or rounded walls and flat bottom. The basins have supports or small protuberance instead of them. There are also basins of bigger size, not de-ep, with straight or rounded walls, standing on middle or low and flat supports. The bottom of those ones is usually flat, not ornamented. Though, sometimes we come accross with fragments of ornamented bottoms; Some of the fragments are decorated with circles or chequered, wavy ornaments; the others have impressed crosses; The crosses are usually strictly outlined but sometimes they are additionally ornamented with scrolls and circles.or animals. Deep basins with plum sides with slanting, slightly rounded walls constitute the second group. Some basins have horizontal furrows and notchings. There are also some deep basins of smaller size having circle-like support as well as the basins with vertical sides and horizontally stuck handles; The sides and handles have wide horizontal furrows; Very many plates both deep and not deep with horizontally bent edges, rounded walls and flat bottoms were also found; They have a low support; Sides of f ome fragments are decorated with comb-like wavy ornament. Oval dishes with horizontally bent edging, low and rounded walls and flat bottoms constitute a separate group; Sides are decorated with relief images of animals, furrows, carved lines etc. ... (S. 409 - 414)

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