Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 31(1): 23-41 DOI: 10.47743/saa-2025-31-1-2 Yusuf POLAT, Rahşan TAMSÜ POLAT   ABSTRACT Since prehistoric times, people have preferred to settle near water sources. Because of its importance for human life, water has been given deep meaning in different periods and cultures, considered ‘sacred’ and playing a key role in religious life, becoming the centerpiece of rituals. In the religious life of the Phrygians, one of the Iron Age civilizations in Central Anatolia, water and water sources also occupied a privileged place. However, there is currently a lack of direct information on the relationship of water to the religion and religious practices of the Phrygians. In this article, Phrygian rock monuments, sacred sites and a group of reliefs depicting the Mother Goddess Matar in the form of stelae, and the ritual actions of the goddess called Kybele and Magna Matar, who was revered as the Phrygian Goddess in(…)

Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 31(1): 5-21 Guram CHKHATARASHVILI, Giorgi TAVAMAISHVILI, Maia CHICHINADZE, Eliso KVAVADZE, Nikoloz TSKVITINIDZE DOI: 10.47743/saa-2025-31-1-1   ABSTRACT Khutsubani is one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the Kintrishi Gorge, offering crucial insights into the mobility of people inhabiting Ajara (Western Georgia) during the Early Holocene period. The site provides valuable information on the paleoenvironment, activities, stone processing techniques, and connections with the Middle East. In 2024, an expedition from the Kobuleti Museum conducted extensive archaeological fieldwork at the Khutsubani settlement. Excavations revealed flint and obsidian tools, remnants of tool production, basalt tools, various types of pits, and more. Through interdisciplinary research, absolute dating was achieved, and the ancient paleoclimatic environment was reconstructed. However, the most important discovery was the artifact connected with fishing and organic remains preserved on it, which indicates the existence of fishing and, presumably, an early stage of weaving in the region, along(…)