Nokalakevi Archaeological Site

Nokalakevi is an archaeological fortress and settlement complex in western Georgia’s Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, often referred to in scholarship by its classical name and identified with important Colchian and later medieval centres. The site preserves a fortified acropolis and lower town with remains spanning antiquity to the Middle Ages.

Excavations have revealed defensive works, public buildings and churches alongside domestic and craft areas, showing the site’s long occupation and strategic importance on regional communication routes. Finds include architectural remains and artefacts that illustrate cultural contacts across the Black Sea region.

The site developed in antiquity as part of the kingdom structures of the Colchis and later became an important fortified centre through Late Antiquity and the medieval period. Archaeological work during the 20th century established its chronology and importance for the study of western Georgian history.

Nokalakevi is located in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti in western Georgia, inland from the Black Sea coast and reachable from regional towns and transport routes in western Georgia.

• Archaeological significance: Extensive archaeological excavations in the 20th century documented multiple occupational layers from antiquity through the medieval era, making it one of western Georgia’s major archaeological sites.

What to See#

• Citadel (acropolis): A fortified acropolis with defensive walls and towers marking the upper citadel of the settlement; archaeological layers show modification from classical through medieval periods.
• Lower town and domestic quarters: The lower town contains streets, building foundations and public structures revealed by excavation, indicating a long-lived urban centre with craft and domestic areas.
• Churches and public buildings: Excavations have uncovered churches and public buildings from late antiquity and the early medieval period, reflecting the site’s Christian and regional significance.

Nokalakevi is in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region. The nearest larger towns are Zugdidi and Poti; from those towns local roads and guided tours can reach the site.

• Wear sturdy footwear - the site is an open archaeological park with uneven surfaces.
• Bring insect repellent in summer; vegetation can be thick around exposed ruins.
• Local guides in Zugdidi or Anaklia can provide historical context and arrange transport to the site.