Abuli: Churches, Crosses, and Archaeological Traces

Abuli offers a clear focus for travelers interested in church architecture and archaeological traces. In and around the village are various remains: churches, crosses, graves, and remnants of older settlements. The historical reference points range from the Bronze Age and the first millennium BC to an Armenian church built in 1884. This makes it possible to explore Abuli through several historical layers rather than limiting the trip to a single building.

Churches, Crosses, and Inscriptions

The Church of Abuli is designated as a monument from the 10th century. By contrast, the fortress settlement in the surrounding area is dated to the first millennium BC. Two clearly distinct periods are therefore represented side by side: the later date applies to the church in the village, and the earlier one to the fortress settlement in the surrounding area.

Early feudal stone crosses form another part of the cultural heritage. They are mounted on cubic bases and decorated with Bolnuri medallions and flowering crosses. On the west wall of Abuli’s Georgian church, next to a window, is an inscription carved in Asomtavruli. The bases, ornaments, and script provide specific architectural features that go beyond the dating of individual buildings.

Surb Astvatsatsin was built from finely cut tuff and has a three-aisled layout. The term describes the division of the church interior; at the west entrance there is also a cornice with an Armenian-language inscription above it. The material, floor plan, and entrance side thus offer different points of reference for architectural classification.

Two other church ruins remain in Abuli, though their dates have not been established. The historical range also includes an Armenian church built in 1884. Thus, precisely dated buildings stand alongside remains whose age is uncertain.

Archaeological Traces in the Village and Surrounding Area

Sarcophagi carved into the rock remain on a small rocky rise at the western edge of the village. East of Abuli, a Bronze Age cemetery lies on the grounds of the modern cemetery. At the southern edge of the village, a settlement mound preserves traces of defensive walls. Large pottery vessels from the Late Bronze Age have been found in the Abuli area. The range therefore extends from burial grounds and traces of fortified settlements to pottery finds.

A seasonal herding settlement on the shore of the village lake is attributed to prehistoric and early feudal periods. It adds another context to the graves, wall remains, and vessel finds: a form of temporary pastoral settlement on the lakeshore.

Fortifications and Elevation

The fortress of Abuli has a western and an eastern entrance, as well as two semicircular towers and three rectangular towers. Terraced rooms lie on the eastern slope outside the fortress; a spring is located in the southern section. The entrances, the different shapes of the towers, and the layout of the rooms describe various structural aspects of the complex.

The Abuli Cyclopean Fortress on Mount Patara Abuli is a high-altitude megalithic complex at about 2,700 meters. It includes dry-stone walls, an inner fortress, storage stations, and around 40 stables. The path to the complex follows a steep trail of grass and boulders. The elevation, trail conditions, and approximate number of stables offer different points of reference for understanding the complex and accessing it.

Discover more destinations: Borjomi, Abastumani, Didi Mitarbi, Tsemi, Nakalakevi, Zarzma, Aspindza, Likani.

For the broader travel overview: Samtskhe-Javakheti.