Printed and Digital Catalogues of Georgian Cultural Monuments in the Area of Historic Sites in Turkey

Sper, Bayburt and Lazeti - SPELABA

Project Objectives:

Sper, Bayburt and Lazeti (historic Georgia, now the territory of Turkey) have long been recognized as nationally important sites in Georgian history, however, there has been no research undertaken to explore their monuments and material culture. To this date no substantial data are available on these sites.  

Creating the complete and comprehensive printed and online catalogue mentioned above can be possible through a long research encompassing combined methodologies, utilising post-expedition findings and gathering data from the archives.

 The study should be conducted in several stages:

• Retrieving scientific and other materials and printed sources on the monuments of Sper, Bayburt and Lazeti from the archives
• Dividing an area intoa number of different study territories, corresponding to today’s administrative division of districts of Turkey
• Combining archival and printed materials (related to historical toponyms or to material monuments) for each of the region with information depicted on: Turkish, Russian, the Soviet Union, European and Georgian maps
• Compiling above-stated materials with the geographical and other relevant data available online
• Creating a preliminary list of architectural monuments by defining the location
• Equipping and planning the expedition in specific areas, taking climatic and other environmental factors into account (a technical expedition base sets are already available)
• Using prepared materials to set up a research expedition on the Turkish territory with the assistance and information provided by the local population
• Photographing, describing and locating GPS coordinates of the observed material monuments
• Processing and compiling the obtained data, translating into English, and creating an online database; publishing interim reports and assembling illustrated online and printed catalog

Project activities and outcomes:

An online catalogue will include information on Sper, Bayburt and Lazeti cultural monuments; the information will be available in two languages (Georgian and English). (Monument location, (historical and current toponyms), GPS coordinates, bilingual description of the monuments, existing written sources of the monuments, photographic materials (archival imagery, as well as current position mapping), monument plan/cross-sections). In addition, the online catalogue will contain information from 2013-2016 Caucasus University's project financed by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation.  Ultimately a comprehensive 7-volume printed and online catalogue of Georgian cultural monuments of Turkey will be provided. 

This factor will have a significant impact and raise awareness about Georgian historic sites and monuments outside Georgian borders. Acquired information will be accessible to Georgian as well as to international audiences.

Project starting and finishing dates: 07.2018 - 07.2021

Coordinator University: Caucasus University (CU) – Georgia