The Kura-Araxes culture existed during the 4th and 3rd millennium BCE and covered the territories of the South Caucasus, northwestern Iran, and eastern Türkiye. This primarily agropastoral society is characterized by a variety of lithic projectile points. Since the discovery of this culture, numerous excavations have been conducted, resulting in the discovery of a substantial number of projectile points. Based on the morphological characteristics, they are divided into three groups: tanged, concave-based, and flat-based points.
The study aims to analyse projectile points from the Irmis Rka and Chobareti settlements in southwest Georgia. In addition to typological and technological assessment, the artifacts were analysed under the optical microscope in order to determine their function. As a result, several pieces show a combination of macro and micro wear traces, which is expressed in tip fractures, notching, edge scars, bright spots, and polish lines on the surfaces. According to the experimental series conducted by researchers, the use-wear traces detected on the samples are diagnostic for projectile points. However, some of the pieces show evidence of secondary use. Moreover, for source determination purposes, X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis was performed on two obsidian samples, one from each site. Both of the artifacts were traced to the Chikiani source in Georgia.
The results indicate that the projectile points served both primary and secondary functions within the Kura-Araxes communities at the Irmis Rka and Chobareti settlements. Nevertheless, it remains difficult to determine whether these tools were primarily used for hunting or for intercommunal conflicts. The scarcity of wild animal remains at both sites suggests that hunting played only a minor role in the subsistence practices. In addition, the XRF analysis provides insight into patterns of raw material procurement and possible territorial movement of these populations.

First Author: Aleko Zavradashvili

Keywords:
Caucasus
Georgia
Kura-Araxes culture
Projectile Points
Use-wear