Recent archaeological excavations have uncovered a basalt tablet with inscriptions in an unknown language near Lake Bashplemi, in the Dmanisi region of Georgia. The discovery is significant not only because of the rarity of the material found but also because it could reveal unknown aspects of the ancient civilizations that inhabited the Caucasus.

The finding, made in 2021, is a tablet the size of a book, on which 60 different symbols have been recorded, of which 39 have no exact equivalents in other known ancient writing systems. Archaeologists, based on the archaeological and geological context, believe that the tablet may date from the Late Bronze Age or the early Iron Age, around the first millennium BCE.

The Dmanisi region is known for its wealth of archaeological discoveries, especially in relation to human remains dating back as far as 1.8 million years, making it a crucial area for the study of early Eurasian inhabitants. However, this time, the discovery is not related to physical anthropology but to a possible writing system that could provide clues about the culture, religion, and social structures of the ancient inhabitants of this area.

Georgia inscription caucasus
Location of Lake Bashplemi in Georgia, the site of the find. Credit: R. Shengelia et al.

Lake Bashplemi is located on a volcanic plateau surrounded by hills and fed by small tributaries of the Mashavera River. Although the area had not been extensively studied from an archaeological perspective, researchers found ceramic fragments, a mortar stone, and pieces of obsidian on the surface, suggesting that the region may have had significant human activity.

The basalt tablet contains 39 unique symbols arranged in seven horizontal lines or registers. Some of these symbols repeat, allowing for a total of 60 characters on the stone’s surface. The arrangement and frequency of some of the characters suggest that they may have been used to denote numbers or punctuation marks. Researchers have suggested that the writing system may have been used to record religious offerings, construction works, or military inventories, although these interpretations are preliminary.

To create these characters, the ancient artisans used advanced techniques, including a type of conical drill to create the initial outlines of the symbols, followed by rounded-headed tools to smooth the marks. The hardness of the basalt and the precision of the markings indicate a high degree of skill and sophisticated carving technique.

Georgia inscription caucasus
View of Lake Bashplemi en Georgia. Credit: R. Shengelia et al.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this inscription is its partial resemblance to various ancient writing systems. Archaeologists have noted some graphic similarities to Caucasian inscriptions, such as early Georgian alphabets and other pre-Christian scripts in the region. Some symbols also have a visual relationship with writing systems of the Near East, such as Phoenician, Aramaic, and Proto-Sinaitic, which could indicate a possible cultural influence or exchange with neighboring civilizations.

However, the Bashplemi inscription does not appear to fully replicate any known writing system. The symbols show only partial similarities to some Semitic, Greek, Indian systems, and even certain Bronze and Early Iron Age seals discovered in Georgia. This peculiarity has led researchers to consider the possibility that it may be an independent writing system or even a proto-system that may have evolved locally.

The existence of this sign system adds complexity to the cultural history of the Caucasus, a region that, although situated at a crossroads between Asia and Europe, has been seen as a peripheral area in the history of ancient writings. Ancient texts, such as those by Apollonius of Rhodes and other Greek authors, reference writing in the region of Colchis, part of present-day western Georgia, which they call golden writing. However, until now, no conclusive archaeological evidence of such writing systems has been found.

Georgia inscription caucasus
The symbols of the tablet, highlighted and numbered. Credit: R. Shengelia et al.

This finding raises the possibility that other writing systems existed in the Caucasus during the Bronze Age, possibly used for ceremonial or administrative purposes. The reason why more samples of this possible writing have not been preserved could be due to the use of biodegradable materials such as wood or leather, which do not survive in the region’s humid climate.

An exhaustive analysis of the tablet’s authenticity has been conducted, both in terms of the material and the inscription techniques. The basalt of the tablet matches the geological composition of rocks in the area, suggesting it was produced locally. Additionally, the wear marks on the basalt’s surface, caused by the use of metal tools, seem to indicate that locals who found it attempted to clean the artifact without understanding its significance, reinforcing the authenticity of the find.

The inscription process is complex and requires considerable technical skill, making it unlikely that the tablet is a modern forgery. For archaeologists, the authenticity of the inscription is based on the archaeological context and its resemblance to other pre-Christian signs found in the region.

SOURCES

Ramaz Shengelia, Levan Gordeziani, et al., Discovery Of Unknown Script Characters In Georgia: The Bashplemi Lake Tablet. Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology, vol 11, no 3 (2024). DOI: 10.14795/j.v11i3.1035

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