Tombs some 5,000 years old discovered in cave in Sukhum district

SUKHUM / AQW'A — Tombs estimated to be around 5,000 years old have been discovered in a cave near the village of Guma in the Sukhum district, according to Garri Sangulia, head of Abkhazia's State Administration for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Heritage.

According to Sangulia, the find is unique not only for Abkhazia but for the Caucasus as a whole, offering insight into ancient rites and the distinctive character of Abkhazian burial culture.

'The tomb is built of large stone blocks, with every gap sealed and coated in clay to prevent air from entering. The burials themselves are secondary: the bodies were most likely interred elsewhere at first, and the remains, with some of the bones missing, were later transferred to this cave,' he explained.

The exact number of graves is not yet known, though Sangulia does not rule out that it may exceed 15 to 20. He suggests the cave may have served as an ancestral burial place.

The expedition also included Alkhas Smyr, a speleologist from New Athos, and the historian Alkhas Jopua. Nothing was previously known of the tomb, Sangulia said. The cave itself is small and its entrance very narrow, making work inside difficult; preparatory measures will be required before excavation can begin.

The immediate priority is to seal the cave entrance to keep out unauthorised visitors. A larger expedition to study the tombs is planned for September to October.