Researchers from Cranfield University in England have conducted a study of the 3000-year-old fortress of Dmanisi-Gora in the Caucasus using drone mapping technology. Dr. Nathaniel Erb-Satullo, alongside Dmitry Yachvliani from the National Museum of Georgia, has been investigating this site since 2018. Their findings, published in the journal Antiquity, reveal that the fortress, protected by a wall approximately 1 kilometer long and 2.5 meters wide, is 40 times larger than previously thought and includes an external settlement.
Drone imagery was compared with photographs taken 50 years ago by Cold War spy satellites, aiding in the differentiation of ancient structures from modern alterations. The researchers suggest that the size of the external settlement may have fluctuated based on interactions with nomadic groups.
Excavations following the drone surveys uncovered tens of thousands of artifacts, including pottery and animal bones, providing insights into life during the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages. This work has enhanced understanding of the structure of ancient settlements, their density, economic activities, and seasonal movements.