Martkopi is a village in Gardabani Municipality of Georgia. It is located on the left side of Ialno range, in the gorges of the rivers Alikhevi and Tevali, and is at an altitude of 770 meters. It is 55 kilometres from Gardabani and 12 kilometres from Vaziani. According to 2014 census, the village is populated by 7397 residents. The region of Martkopi played a big role during the third millennium BC. It is distinguished by many rich burial kurgans, representing the early stage of the Early Kurgan culture of Central Transcaucasia.
History
Martkopi territory was inhabited from 1st to the 2nd century. Till the 6th century its name was Akriani. It is considered that name “Martkopi” comes from one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers - Anton Martqopeli. A cathedral was established at the older monastery in the 13th century, which since the 15th century became a centre of Sadrosho. In 1625 in Martkopi a military confrontation took place between Georgia and Iran. In addition Martkopi served as a cultural centre too. The names of the famous Georgian poets and writers Nikolos Cherkesishvili, Ioan Khobulashvili, Stefane Djorjadze and others are associated with the village. Precious Parthian coins were found in the territory of the village. In Martkopi ruins of cupola church is still preserved. It was built in 1810 by bishop of Rustavi Stefane II. Some other family castles from the 18th century can also be found here. Near the village is Ghvtaeba monastery complex dating back to 5th—6th centuries.
Bronze age
Close to village in the Ulevari valley archaeologists discovered bronze-age graves.
Martkopi kurgans
Several rich burial kurgans have been discovered in the area. They represent the early stage of the Early Kurgan culture of Central Transcaucasia. The Martkopi Culture may be dated before 2550 BC. This Early Kurgan period, known as Martkopi-Bedeni, has been interpreted as a transitional phase and the first stage of the Middle Bronze Age. To the earliest group belong the kurgans or barrows of the Martkopi/Ulevari and Samgori valleys, and the earliest among the Trialeti culture. The somewhat later kurgans are of Bedeni type. They are represented by the kurgans of the Bedeni plateau, and also those of the Alazani valley. This stage of the Early Bronze Age seems to represent the final stage of the Kura-Araxes culture. According to recent dating, the transition to the Early Kurgan period was around the mid of the 3rd millennium -- somewhat between the 27th to 24th century BC.
Metalwork
There appears to be the new abundance of metals in this period. Arsenical coppers were dominating the record, while copper and tin-bronzes were represented to a rather limited degree. The launch of tin bronze production in South Caucasia is associated with the appearance of the so-called Early Kurgans, whereas artifacts of the Kura-Araxes culture were made exclusively of copper-arsenic alloy.
