Drone Technology Uncovers 3,000-Year-Old Fortress in Caucasus Mountains
Researchers from Cranfield University have successfully used drone technology to map a massive 3,000-year-old fortress in the South Caucasus mountains, known as Dmanisis Gora. Initially discovered in 2018, the site was thought to consist of limited visible ruins. However, with 11,000 aerial images captured by drones, a comprehensive digital map was created, revealing that the fortress is over 40 times larger than previously estimated.
The team highlighted that the fortress features both inner and outer walls constructed from rough boulders and mortar, with the outer wall extending over half a mile. This site not only demonstrates significant architectural capability but also complicates existing models of population density in the region during the Late Bronze and Iron Age.
The research, recently published in the journal Antiquity, aims to shed light on how ancient societies adapted and expanded their settlements over time. As excavation continues, the team anticipates uncovering tens of thousands of artifacts that could further elucidate the historical significance of Dmanisis Gora.
According to the study, this remarkable find could change our understanding of large-scale settlements in Eurasia, offering insights into the interaction of mobile pastoral groups with more sedentary populations in ancient times.
