29th March 2024
Roman Coins Discovered at Fort Site in Georgia
Spread the love

SAT 9 FEB 2019 10:42

Roman Coins Discovered at Fort Site in Georgia:

Bronze and silver Roman coins have been discovered by a Polish-Georgian team of archaeologists conducting excavations in the Roman fort of Apsaros Georgia. According to the discoverers, this could be a small part of a larger treasure.

Bronze and silver Roman coins have been discovered by a Polish-Georgian team of archaeologists conducting excavations in the Roman fort of Apsaros Georgia. According to the discoverers, this could be a small part of a larger treasure.

The oldest coins in the find were minted during the reign of Hadrian (117-138 AD); the youngest come from the last years of the reign of Septimius Severus (beginning of the 3rd century AD).

“All coins were discovered very close to each other in the Roman fort Apsaros” – told PAP Dr. Radosław Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski from the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Warsaw, project head from the Polish side.

Georgian partner is Prof. Shota Mamuladze from the Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University and Gonio-Apsaros Museum and Reserve.

Polish and Georgian researcher will search for more coins. The excavation season will continue.

According to the numismatics expert of the expedition, Dr. Piotr Jaworski from the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Warsaw, the discovered coins might be a small part of a larger treasure.

It could be scattered as a result of later earth works and construction works in the fort. After the Romans, Byzantine, Ottoman and even Soviet garrisons were also stationed in the fort.

All discovered coins come from the mint in Caesarea, the capital of Cappadocia – the place located nearly 1000km from Apsaros. They were made of bronze and silver.

So far, only one treasure from this period was found in Apsaros several years ago. It counts over 40 silver coins, the youngest of which date back to the time of Caracalla (beginning of the 3rd century).

The coins could have been hidden by Roman soldiers shortly before the expedition against the Parthians. Scientists trust that the newly discovered coins were hidden at the same time.

Fort Apsaros was built around two thousand years ago on the border of the Roman province of Cappadocia.

Due to its strategic position, it had an important role in the defence system of the eastern border of the Roman Empire. “That is why every year, work on this site provides new, unique discoveries” – says Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski.

So far, the most vital achievement of the team led since 2014 by Dr. Radoslaw Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski in Apsaros was the discovery of a part of the bathhouse built in the 2nd half of 1st century AD.

The most surprising find was the mosaic that decorated the floor in one of the bathing rooms. It was part of the garrison commander’s residence.