Bronze Age metallurgical complex unearthed in western Georgia

Archaeologists working in western Georgia have uncovered a unique Bronze Age metallurgical complex and artefacts that researchers say provide new evidence of the region's importance as a centre of ancient metal production, the Culture Ministry said on Monday.

The discovery was made during archaeological excavations in the village of Doghurashi in Tsageri Municipality by specialists from the Georgian National Museum and international researchers.

The complex, associated with metal smelting, has been dated to the 13th to 9th centuries BC by the University of Oxford's laboratory.

The ministry said the site is the largest metallurgical workshop of its kind discovered to date in the ancient region of Colchis and offers a comprehensive picture of the complex processes involved in Bronze Age metal smelting.

"The discovery once again confirms that, during the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages, Lechkhumi was one of the most important metallurgical centres of mountainous Colchis and played a leading role in copper metallurgy across the Caucasus," the ministry said.