REFLECTIONS ABOUT THE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF MAKING IRON AND STEEL WEAPONS IN GEORGIA

Abstract

Metallurgy has always played an important role in the almost 4000-year history of Georgia's statehood. Its specificity, development, ups and downs and new reincarnations in other times and places, over and over again, is the main plot of this article. The metallurgical centers of South Georgia (the Lower Caucasus Range) are considered the birthplace of iron metallurgy in the world and throughout the ancient era played a leading role in the markets of the then world. However, during the Middle Ages, Georgian metallurgy was forced to hide in the Northern Mountains to keep away from aggressive invaders, and suffered from a limited ore base and isolation. The article attempts to analyze and clarify iron deposits in Georgia, which may have been used by ancient metal masters. In addition, those small elements were established that were added to iron to produce high-quality steel, and later Damascus steel in Georgia.