Northern outpost of the Caliphate: Maintaining military forces in a hostile environment (the Dariali Gorge in the Central Caucasus in Georgia)

Eberhard W. Sauer*, Konstantin Pitskhelauri, Kristen Hopper, Anthi Tiliakou, Catriona Pickard, Dan Lawrence, Annamaria Diana, Elena Kranioti, Catherine Shupe

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

The strategic significance of the Dariali Gorge, the main pass across the central Caucasus, has long been recognised. It forms a border today as it has done for much of the past 2000 years. But how was an effective military force sustained in an isolated Alpine environment? Excavations, osteoarchaeology and landscape survey have revealed that the Early Middle Ages saw as much investment in controlling this key route as there was in Antiquity. Guarded by the same Muslim-led garrison for at least a quarter of a millennium, its survival in a harsh environment was made possible through military effort and long-distance food supplies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)885-904
Number of pages20
JournalAntiquity
Volume89
Issue number346
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Aug 2015

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Georgia
  • Caucasus
  • Late Antiquity
  • early medieval
  • fortification
  • isotope analysis
  • osteoarchaeology
  • vegetation
  • collagen

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