Abstract:
The report discusses the “monuments of Georgian tangible and
intangible culture in the North Caucasus, in particular: epigraphy, inscriptions,
Georgian ethnotoponymy. An attempt is made to explain
the historical, political, cultural and social reasons for the existence
of Georgian material and spiritual cultural monuments in the North
Caucasus; Not only the monuments of Georgian Christian culture are
confirmed in the North Caucasus, but also other types of cultural
heritage of Georgian culture. Georgia has historically been a cultural,
political and educational center in the Caucasus region. Communication
routes of the Caucasus countries passed through Georgia. Georgia’s geopolitical and geoeconomic function in the Caucasus region
determined the meeting of Georgian culture with the culture of other
Caucasian peoples and defined Georgia’s special role in these relations.
All this was also conditioned by the fact that the state of Georgia
was one of the (if not the only) advanced states in the Caucasus
in a particular historical period.
The report presents Georgian epigraphic monuments and Georgian
texts written in Georgian script, preserved in the North Caucasus,
as well as „Khundzuri“ (Avar language) and other North Caucasian
texts written in Georgian script. About the Georgian inscriptions
preserved in Dagestan we find A. Berge, Lavrov, Arn. Chikobava, T.
Gudava, d. Scientifi c studies by Ataev and other linguists and archaeologists.
We distinguish two main periods of Georgian-North Caucasian
cultural relations: 1. V-X, 2. XI-XV centuries. Especially in the second
period, a new active phase of missionary activity from Georgia begins.
The Georgian Orthodox Church strives to spread Christianity,
followed by the construction of Christian temples in the region. At
the same time, the Georgian alphabet began to spread and the Georgian
language was used in worship. In this regard, it is very important
to spread the texts in Georgian script, both in Asomtavruli and
Nuskhakhutsuri, in mountainous Dagestan and other regions of the
North Caucasus.
Georgian linguistic-cultural monuments in the North Caucasus
are a documentary proof that in the Middle Ages not only the Georgian
language played the role of lingua franca in the North Caucasus,
but also the Georgian script was used as a basis for writing in
the North Caucasian languages. These processes were interrupted
by subsequent Mongol invasions and the expansion of other invaders.
Georgian alphabet system, as noted by P. Uslar is most suitable
for the phonemic system of North Caucasian languages. The report
presents new empirical material on Georgian epigraphy in the North
Caucasus.
