Construction on Tbilisi's Rustaveli Avenue Reveals Rare 10th-Century Pottery Cache
Roadworks on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi uncovered a collection of 10th-century pottery, offering new insight into the city’s medieval past.
Excavations carried out as part of the Rustaveli Avenue upgrade in Tbilisi revealed a rare assemblage of pottery dating from the 10th to 11th centuries, making it one of the oldest medieval finds in the capital. The fragments, likely from a ceramic workshop, were discovered six metres below the road surface amid the debris of the construction project. National Museum director David Lordkipanidze said the discovery aligns with Tbilisi’s rich archaeological layers, reflecting its multicultural history under Arab, Seljuk and later Mongol, Persian and Russian influences.
The pieces will be transferred to the museum for three-dimensional scanning and detailed analysis. Although the works have sparked resident complaints over traffic chaos, city officials aim to finish the improvements by the November deadline.
