THE POPULATION OF TSKHAVATI VALLEY IN THE 70S OF THE 19TH CENTURY

Abstract

The work discusses the villages of the historical Tskhavati Gorge. Based on the research topic, particular attention is paid to the demographic situation existing in the villages of Tskhavati in the 70s of the 19th century, while also reviewing the historical-geographical environment, social and economic issues of the valley. The discussion covers the religious life of the village and the sanctuaries located there, including the 8th-9th century Church of the Savior, where the oldest lapidary inscription commemorating craftsman Ina Kalatozi has been preserved.

This appears to be an academic work about a Georgian historical region, focusing on demographic, social, economic, and religious aspects of the Tskhavati Valley during a specific period in the 19th century.

The village population celebrated almost all Christian holidays, such as the Virgin Mary, the Lomisoba, Saint George, Saint Tomas Sunday, the Archangel, the Barbarian... Sometimes several holidays were celebrated together in one church, which led to its mention by different names...

   In order to present the demographic picture of the village, the book of Samtavisi seat of the second half of the 18th century, the statistical descriptions of Ksni Saeristavo in 1774 and 1783, the book of "Gasakvani Morigi" from the villages of Zemo Kartli from the years 1774-1800 are reviewed, through which we get to know the dynamics of the rural population of the relevant period, the views imposed on them, here existing agricultural branches, existing relations between serfs and lords.

Analysis of 19th-century sources begins with the 1803 royal census, followed by Russian chamber censuses beginning in 1804 and ending with the 1886 census. The population of the 20th century is discussed according to the union censuses of 1923, 1939, 1959, 1970, 1979 and 1989.An important place is given to the situation of the beginning of the twenty-first century and the subsequent occupation of Akhalgori municipality. It should also be noted that the majority of chamber or union

descriptions of the XIX-XX centuries are published for the first time, which makes the research topic more important and relevant. In order to better present the past of the village, together with historical sources, attention is paid to the folklore material preserved by the population of the Ksani

valley.

Key words: tskhavati valley, demographic lists, cameral description, household, churches monasteries, the chieftains of ksani, serf-peasants, migration, occupation.