According to the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia, Georgian researchers believe that additional study is required to confirm that the tomb discovered in Ardanuç Castle belongs to Ashot I Kuropalates.

The Cultural Heritage Agency welcomes the efforts of our Turkish colleagues to scientifically study Ardanuç Castle, which in the past served as the political centre of Tao-Klarjeti.

“According to Turkish archaeologists, a tomb believed to belong to the Georgian king Ashot I Kuropalates has been discovered in Ardanuç (Turkish name Gevhernik) castle. An archaeological expedition from Van Yüzüncü Yıl University and Turkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism discovered a tomb beneath the ruins of the Church of Peter and Paul in the fortress-city of Ardanuç, which, according to them, is believed to belong to the great Georgian king Ashot I (Kuropalates).

Specialists from the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia, under the leadership of Professor Vakhtang Japaridze, were present at the archaeological excavation site, where Turkish colleagues briefed them on ongoing archaeological work and significant new discoveries, including the revealed tomb.

Given that the tomb contained no remains and no inscription of any kind, Georgian researchers believe that the discovery requires additional study and analysis to confirm the tomb’s attribution to Ashot Kuropalates,” the information from the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia states.