The Georgian Marchlands. Studies in the Historical Geography. Presentation of the New Book by Giorgi Tcheishvili at the University of Europe

Abstract

This short piece reports on the presentation (22 February 2025) of Giorgi Tcheishvili’s new book The Georgian Marchlands. Studies in the Historical Geography (Aureus, 2024). The volume collects nearly twenty research articles published by the author over several decades, from the mid-1980s to the early 2020s, and focuses primarily on historical geography while also engaging source criticism and cultural anthropology. At the presentation—held at the Zurab Zhvania parliamentary hall and organized by the Archaeology Institute of Europe University—scholars from Georgian research centers and universities noted Tcheishvili’s rigorous, research-based approach. The review emphasizes the methodological difficulty and importance of historical geography, highlights standout contributions (e.g., studies on the Caspian Gates, the political geography of Meskheti, Marmashen inscriptions, and issues related to Gareji etc ), and notes the book’s careful documentation, useful scholia, and balanced bibliography. Edited by David Muskhelishvili and reviewed by Alexander Noneshvili and Valerian Vashakidze, the volume is recommended as an important resource for specialists and an informative read for non-specialists interested in Georgian history.