ივანე ჯავახიშვილი და სვანეთის ეთნოლოგიის კვლევის საკითხები

Abstract

Ivane Javakhishvili is the founder of many branches of historical science and he made major contribution to formation of ethnology as scientific discipline. Analysis of traditional way of life and culture of Svaneti takes the significant place in Ivane Javakhishvili’s works. Ancient worldviews, mythology, folklore, beliefs and perceptions preserved in Svaneti were studied by Ivane Javakhishvili, who has reconstructed Georgian archaic life and pre- Christian pantheon. The holistic thinking and detailed analysis of components of object of study is one of the peculiarities of Ivane Javakhishvili’s scientific heritage. Every segment of beliefs and perceptions verified in Svaneti is comprehensively studied by scholar: he determines the etymology of ethnographic terms, semantic fields, social role and often structure of the fact. Comprehensiveness and deepness of study sets the extremely modern nature of Ivane Javakhishvili’s works. All other spheres of Georgians’ everyday life are highlighted in the area of Ivane Javakhishvili’s studies, and Svanetian materials have significant place in their analysis. In this regard especially valuable is an edition “Materials for the history of household and crafts of Georgia” issued under the editorship of Ivane Javakhishvili. The volume contains multifarious information on traditional construction technologies, furniture manufacturing, agriculture, cattle breeding, nutrition culture, and melioration system of Svaneti etc. Materials are prepared on the basis of special ethnographic reference book and information is obtained right from narrators.