In a landscape full of contrasts with volcanic plateaus, ravines, mountain steppes, canyons, alpine and sub-alpine vegetation Samtskhe-Javakheti hosts the remnants of megalithic culture. It is the seal which showcases Georgia’s thousands of years of existence and associates the region with the cradle of Georgian culture. 

The word megalith is of Greek origin and derives from the word combination “μέγας” meaning great and “λίθος” meaning stone. A megalith is considered to be either a single massive stone or a monument of prehistoric civilization created by extra-large, rough stones or monoliths. Megaliths were used for a variety of purposes ranging from serving as religious buildings to being part of the society’s household. Primarily megaliths were erected between the Neolithic period and the Bronze Age. The most widely known megaliths are: Dolmen, Menhir, Cromlechs (Stone Circles), and Cyclopean complexes. Remains of this vague culture have been found in various parts of the whole world, however despite many scientific studies, megalithic civilization still remains an undisclosed phenomenon, thus commonly is surrounded by abundant myths and legends.   

In Samtskhe-Javakheti, there are all types of surviving megalithic culture, some which are prevalent in isolation in other parts of the world. But the Georgian language has preserved quite a diverse tradition of naming the megaliths. For example the Menhirs are often called “Stone-Man”, “Stone-Bride” or “Breast-Stone”. Those labels indicate that the megalithic monuments were mainly associated with various mythical beliefs, such as bringing rain or clemency for the harvest, grain fertility or increasing milk for nursing mothers (the famous Menhir of Murjakheti). Along with cult or ritual purposes, the many Menhirs dotted in Samtskhe-Javakheti might have had other, more applied and vital purposes.. As in most cases they are found at crossroads and on the roads that lead to cyclopean complexes.

The Ancient Greeks believed that mythical Cyclops built those enormous fortresses, while Georgian tradition attributed creation of the ancient strongholds to “Devs” and “Heroes”, hence often these castles were referred to as “Carved by Heroes”.   

Built in the Bronze Age, the cyclopean fortresses became faithful storytellers of Georgia’s chronicles, as their construction period coincides with the beginning of the unification of the Kartvelian tribes. And whenever we mention the cyclopean relics scattered on the Samtskhe-Javakheti ridges, invariably emerge three names. On the tops of three mountains, three fortresses – carved by heroes, three ancient rings of Georgia: