Gomareti Stelae

The Historical Past of Gomareti Village

Gomareti is an ancient village, located on the historical Zurtaketi Plateau, where signs of human habitation and creativity appear from as far back as the 4th-3rd millennium BCE. On the outskirts of the village, objects from the Neolithic Period, an ancient settlement from the Eneolithic Period, massive kurgans from the early Bronze Age, and graves from the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age have all been discovered.

Yet it is these ancient stone pillars that hold pride of place with locals, who, each year on the Sunday after Easter, climb to them to celebrate the occasion.

What Use Did the Stelae Have Centuries Ago?

The stelae, vertically placed stone pillars, with inscriptions or bas-relief figures on top, are believed to have been used as tombstones or to mark some significant event.

These stone pillars from the early Christian era are a unique source not only for Georgian culture but also for the religion studies. The stone pillars are an epigraphic monument, with lapidary inscriptions on their tops, in addition to plant figures as ornamentation.