Iulon Gagoshidze ( ka, იულონ გაგოშიძე) (born 17 July 1935) is a
Georgian historian,
archaeologist
Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...
, scholar and
politician
A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...
who served as the State Minister for Diaspora Issues in the
Government of Georgia from November 2007 to December 2009, when he was moved to lead the recently created Archeological Research Center at the President's Administration. As a scholar, Gagoshidze is chiefly known for his excavations at
Dedoplis Mindori and studies of the
Achaemenid
The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire, also known as the Persian Empire or First Persian Empire (; , , ), was an Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid dynasty in 550 BC. Based in modern-day Iran, it was the large ...
relics in Georgia.
Biography
Gagoshidze was born in 1935 in
Tbilisi
Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი, ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), ( ka, ტფილისი, tr ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia ( ...
, then-
Soviet Georgia. He graduated from the Department of History of
Tbilisi State University
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University ( ka, ივანე ჯავახიშვილის სახელობის თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი, tr; often shorten ...
in 1958 and obtained a Doctorate in Historical Sciences in 1985. Beginning in 1968, Gagoshidze has led various archaeological expeditions to
Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
,
Cyprus
Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...
,
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...
, Georgia's
Ksani
The Ksani (, , ''Ĉysandon'') is a river in central Georgia, which rises on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range in South Ossetia and flows into the Kura (''Mtkvari''). It is a left tributary of the Kura. The Ksani is long ...
river valley,
Samadlo,
Dedoplistsqaro and other localities. In 1991 he served as the head of local administration (prefect) of
Mtskheta
Mtskheta ( ka, მცხეთა} ) is a city in the Mkhare, region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia (country), Georgia. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It is locat ...
. Later, from 2004 to 2005, he was a member of
Tbilisi City Council. From 2007 to 2009, Gagoshidze was a minister for Diaspora Issues in the
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil "Misha" Saakashvili (born 21 December 1967) is a Georgian and Ukrainian politician and jurist. He was the third president of Georgia for two consecutive terms from 25 January 2004 to 17 November 2013. He is the founder and former chair ...
administration. He became a member of the advisory board of the Ancient West and East (Leiden-Boston-Cologne) in 2002.
Publications
Iulon Gagoshidze has published nine monographs
*Antiques from Ksani Valley, Tbilisi, 1964;
*Самадло. Археологические раскопки, Тб.,1979;
*Самадло. Каталог археологического материала, Тб.,1981;
*The Georgian women jewelry, Tbilisi, 1981 (in Georgian, Russian and Spanish languages);
*Trialeti burials, III, Trialeti antique burials, Tb., 1982 (in Georgian and Russian);
*Au pays de la Toison d’or. Art ancien de Géorgie Soviétique, Paris, 1982 (co-author);
*Money in Georgia, Tb., 2000 (in Georgian and English; co-author);
*Iberia and Rome. The Excavations of the Palace at Dedoplis Gora and the Roman Influence in the Caucasian Kingdom of Iberia, Langenweis-sbach: Beier & Beran, 2008 (co-author and co-publisher);
*The Georgian monastery in Cyprus, Tb., 2014 (in Georgian and English, co-author).
References
Archaeologists from Tbilisi
Living people
1935 births
Government ministers of Georgia (country)
Recipients of the Presidential Order of Excellence
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