This large cluster of burials (plate VIIIb) is located on the southeastern edge of the lower town at Tsaghkahovit, just 350m southeast (bearing 129°) of the summit of Tsaghkahovit Fortress (map quadrant C4c/d).
This large and extensive cluster was built on the lower slopes of a narrow east-west oriented valley. The burials on the north slope are tightly packed into two topographically distinct sub-groups separated by a semicircular bedrock outcrop. On the south slope, in a third group, the burials are more broadly spaced, extending in a series of regular lines approximately one third of the distance upslope.
Although the burial groups within Ts BC 12 appear to comprise a single very large cluster, they are differentiatable into 3 sub-groups by elements of form and construction, as well as topography. Group 1 is the most proximal to Tsaghkahovit's southeast settlement and also the most densely packed of the groups. Standard and paved cromlechs are densely packed atop one another on a series of three terraces formalized by small masonry walls. Overall, no less than 35 cromlechs are clearly distinguishable within 600 square meters. On the eastern edge of group 1 is a bare rock outcrop that divides it from group 2. This group includes at least 30 standard and paved cromlechs. The cromlechs of group 2 are more broadly spaced, extending rather indefinitely to the northeast. Yet, as the description of feature 1 makes clear, some burials remain stratigraphically superimposed despite the broader spacing. Group 3 spreads across the facing slope, across the valley, and are also broadly spaced. 18 standard and 8 paved cromlechs are clearly visible, although alluvial deposits have obscured many of the burials.
No surface materials were found,
Feature 1: is a large paved cromlech 9m in diameter east-west and 9.6m in diameter north-south which we excavated in 1998 (fig. VI.27, 28). From the surface, the feature appeared to be a single large burial; however, after cleaning the surface of the cromlech, it became clear that the feature was in fact two stratigraphically superimposed burials where the mortuary construction associated with cist A was built atop the cromlech surrounding cist B. Both chambers were stone lined and capped with large basalt blocks. Cist B (1.75m x 1.05m x 110m) was oriented northwest-southeast while cist A (1.70m x 0.9m x 1.15m) was oriented northeast-southwest. In cist A we found 4 LB II vessels, but no skeletal material. In chamber B we found 2 whole and 2 partial LB II ceramic vessels in association with a handful of human bones, including the top of a cranium and several long bones. The ceramics found in both chambers echo materials recovered from the fortress trenches in both form and design, suggesting contemporaneity between the cemetery and the fortress.
See: Avetisyan et al. 2000. This burial cluster and the excavated tomb are published in prior publications under the designation East Cemetery 1, tomb 1. At the conclusion of the survey, all sites were renumbered in order to maintain referential integrity.
Avetisyan et al. 2000. This burial cluster and the excavated tomb are published in prior publications under the designation East Cemetery 1, tomb 1. At the conclusion of the survey, all sites were renumbered in order to maintain referential integrity.
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