The Kura-Araxes basin, located in the Southern Caucasus and often referred to archaeologically as the Kura-Araxes oikumene, has long served as a core settlement and interaction zone throughout the Holocene. Characterized by diverse landscapes – ranging from highlands to lowlands – and rich natural resources, including obsidian, copper, gold, and salt, the region played a pivotal role in the emergence and development of archaeological cultures during Late Prehistory.

Beyond its archaeological significance and resource-rich landscapes, the basin preserves a substantial yet understudied corpus of rock art that offers direct insight into prehistoric lifeways. The dense network of internal rivers within the Kura-Araxes basin, shaped by past volcanic activity, created natural communication corridors along valleys that were effectively used by prehistoric communities. Within these highly interacted landscapes, local groups practiced rock art traditions depicting hunting scenes, rituals, and transport, which likely reflect aspects of their daily life, such as seasonal movements to pasturelands and long-distance journeys undertaken to access obsidian or other valuable resources.

A new spatial analysis of this overlooked yet significant phenomenon suggests that rock art may represent a missing link in understanding social behaviour, cultural dynamics, and mobility networks across the region.

First Author: Levan Losaberidze

Keywords:
Southern Caucasus
Rock Art
Late Prehistory