Traces of Early State formations in South East Georgia, Caucasus - response and impact on changes in the climate and environment Shiraqi Plane, South East Georgia, Caucasus

Study of past changes in environment and, its effect on human society delivers key information to reconstruct the hystorical past but also to project future changes and their effects. Study focus on South-East Georgia, Caucasus region, which represents natural polygon of long term changes in the environment. Study area represents semi-arid Shiraqi plain in South-East Georgia (see the map below). It is characterized with annual precipitation <600mm and shows open dry steppic landscape today. However, recent data collected using remote sensing and archaeological studies, deliver evidences of early human inhabitation of this area, starting from the Paleolithic and forming a constant chain of active settlement through the time, until sudden abrupt at the end of the Bronze Age. Geomorphologically Shiraqi plane represents 800 sqr. km of almost flat area with average height of 600 m above Sea level, surrounded by chains of mountains creating a natural walls surrounding the plane. There are almost no settlements in the area, devoid of water resources today. Archaeo-Botanic and soil studies assume that the region was covered by forests, Hydro modelling shows possibility of existence of well developed water network with a shallow lake in the center of plane. Remote sensing data and resent archaeological excavations at Didnauri site provides clear evidences of early state formation, with favorable paleo-environmental conditions. The goal of current study is to shed light on historic changes in the environment of the region, its natural and anthropogenic factors and consequently response of human society on these changes.