Colchian culture

The Colchian culture is a Bronze and Iron Age archaeological culture centered in western Georgia, which flourished from approximately 2700 BCE to 700 BCE. It developed following environmental shifts that enabled more permanent settlement along the Black Sea coastline and further inland. It is divided into Proto-Colchian and Early Colchian phases, later succeeded by Classical-era Greek colonization. Distinguished by wood-based architecture, marshland adaptations, and varied burial rites, Colchian sites — like Pichori and Ergeta — offer a deep archaeological record. The culture is notable for its bronze and iron metallurgy, ritual drinking vessels, and peculiar ceramics. Strong regional interactions with the Koban culture and others reflect broad cultural networks.