Ancient Pottery Discovered Beneath Tbilisi’s Bustling Boulevard

Workers renovating a busy street in Tbilisi, Georgia, have discovered a treasure from the past—a collection of pottery estimated to be around 1,000 years old. This find occurred during ongoing excavation efforts on Rustaveli Avenue, the main road in the Georgian capital.

Photographs reveal archaeologists carefully examining intricately designed pottery fragments, including ancient jugs and various shards. The roadwork is part of a broader initiative to upgrade Rustaveli Avenue with new pedestrian paths and improved signage, as reported by Reuters.

David Lordkipanidze, director of the Georgian National Museum, noted that such a find was not entirely unexpected given Tbilisi’s rich archaeological history. He stated, “Tbilisi is very rich with archaeological material … so it’s very logical to find workshops of different periods.”

This historical discovery highlights Tbilisi’s long history as a crossroads for cultures and trade. The pottery is believed to date from the 10th and 11th centuries when Tbilisi was under Arab rule and an important part of the Silk Road. Researchers are conducting further analysis, including 3D scanning, to determine the artifacts’ age with greater precision.

Tbilisi has a complex history, originally founded in the fourth century. It has experienced control by various powers over centuries, including Mongols, Persians, Russians, and Arabs during the Middle Ages. Georgia, located between Europe and Asia, is a key part of the Caucasus region alongside Armenia and Azerbaijan.

This discovery is part of a broader trend where workers around the world unearth ancient sites during routine construction. For example, in Italy, a new highway project led to the unexpected uncovering of an ancient sanctuary from the fifth century B.C. In Peru, utility workers found pre-Incan tombs while digging for a new gas network.