Abstract:
Making use of natural stones or stone materials in private life of Georgia
is originated from the ancient times. Taking into consideration its shape and
form, stone as natural material had not only the function in private life but ritual
as well, and was one of the main attributes in the definition of mentality at pre-
Christian period. Naturally, the toponyms denoting stone were created in the
regions rich with stones, where from the very begining people gave to it the
functions of housing and private life. Some huge boulders were lodded with
ritual function.
Kvemo (Lower) Kartli is the most distingushed place with the existance
of toponyms denoting stone, the appearing of which we consider to be special
geological structure of Algeti river and Khrami river canyons. The most
important from them are “Gokhnari Karknali” and “Bedeni Lodovani” in Algeti
canyon, “Karknali” near Samhvilde, “Tash-Bashi” in Trialeti region, “Gmirt-
Nakveti” originates from stone buildings in Algeti canyon and others.
From the toponyms on Georgian language denoting megalit stones the
following names are preserved: “Kva-Gora”, “Kriakhi”, “Lodis Tskaro”,
“Kvakatsa”, “Kvajvari”, “Kva-sveti”, “Kviseri”, “Gokhnari”, “Gokhiani”,
“Didlodiani”, “Sajvare”, “Kvakrili”, “Kvavnari”, “Nishi”, “Akudebuli Kva”,
“Agmartuli Kva”, “Marto Kva” and others. The historical, folk, linguistic and
onomastic matereals make it clear that the region of Kvemo (Lower) Kartli,
especially the territory of historical Gachiani represents the old settlement of
Georgian people, where each boulder is the property of the ancient Georgian
civilization and past.
