The National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia announced that Georgian researchers believe further research is necessary to confirm whether the tomb recently unearthed at the Artanuji Fortress in Turkey indeed belongs to Ashot Kurapalati, one of the most prominent rulers of Tao-Klarjeti.
The agency stated that it welcomes the efforts of Turkish archaeologists to study the Artanuji site, known in Turkish as Gevhernik, which once served as the political center of Tao-Klarjeti.
The discovery was made by an archaeological expedition from Van Yüzüncü Yıl University in collaboration with Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Excavations at the ruins of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul within the fortress revealed a tomb that Turkish specialists believe may belong to King Ashot I Kurapalati.
A team of Georgian experts, led by Professor Vakhtang Japaridze, visited the excavation site to assess the findings and discuss ongoing research with their Turkish counterparts.
However, Georgian researches stated that no human remains or inscriptions were found inside the tomb, making it impossible to confirm its ownership at this stage. They emphasized the need for additional archaeological and laboratory studies before any definitive conclusion can be drawn.
“The Agency commends the dedication of Turkish colleagues to the scientific study of Artanuji Fortress, a site of exceptional historical and cultural importance that once served as the political heart of Tao-Klarjeti,” the statement reads.
The discovery has sparked renewed academic interest in the region’s medieval history and the legacy of Ashot Kurapalati who played a primary role in consolidating Georgian statehood in the 9th century.
