soxumis saxelmwifo universiteti

VAKHTANG JAPARIDZEFOR STRATIGRAPHY AND DATING OF CONSTRUCTIONSIN SEBASTOPOLIS (DIOSKURIA)(Part 1)Issue of identification of Sebastopolis (Dioskuria) in ancient sourcespreserves its urgency up to date. Traditionally Tskhumi, which ismentioned in Georgian sources, is also linked to this location. Role of archaeologyis of a special importance in resolution of this complex issue.Excavations at the Sukhumi Bay, which were carried out in the 50ies and60ies of the last century (M. Trapsh, L. Solovyov, L. Shervashidze, A.Apakidze, O. Lordkipanidze, etc.), revealed fortification constructions,temples and other buildings from the I-VI century AD in an immediatevicinity of the coast and partially in the sea. Special artefacts and materialsfound in archaeological cultural layers of the region are of great interest.Excavations from the 80ies of the last century (M. Gunba, L. Khrushkova,etc.) and absolutely new working materials fill the gaps that arecreated by Roman and Byzantine sources concerning Sebastopolis. Studyof the major parts of the urban settlements in Dioskuria and Tskhumi needsto be conducted along with large scale excavation works. In the presentedarticle the author attempted to make some corrections to the definitionand dating of constructions and cultural layers of Sebastopolis. Generaloverview of theoretical issues that are connected to the archaeologicalstudy of Sebastopolis (Dioskuria) and take into account modern literatureis given in the second half of the article.471