THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ETHNOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE IN SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA: UPPER ADJARA IN THE LATE NINETEENTH-CENTURY TRAVEL ACCOUNTS OF PRASKOVIA UVAROVA

Abstract

This study aims to examine the mechanisms of constructing the ethnographic landscape of southwestern Georgia, specifically Upper Adjara, based on the late nineteenth-century travel accounts of Praskovia Sergeyevna Uvarova. The research is grounded in a theoretical approach that understands space not merely as a geographical entity, but as a social, cultural, and interpretative category formed through narrative, language, and perception. From this perspective, Upper Adjara is analyzed not only as a historical region, but as a textually constructed, multi-layered landscape in which natural environment, social practices, and cultural markers are integrated into a coherent system.

The central objective of the study is to determine how spatial perception is formed within a memoir-based ethnographic narrative and to assess the role of the author’s subjective perspective in shaping the interpretation of historical reality. To achieve this, the research employs discourse analysis, the historical-ethnographic method, and source criticism. These methodological approaches enable the text to be examined both as a carrier of empirical data and as an interpretative construct reflecting the intellectual frameworks of its time.

A detailed analysis of Uvarova’s narrative demonstrates that Upper Adjara is represented not only as a remote mountainous region, but as a historically and culturally complex environment in which natural conditions shape economic activities, social organization, and everyday practices. Particular attention is given to the systems of communication and transportation, residential typology, economic practices, and the archaeological landscape, all of which are integrated within the text and contribute to the structural formation of the ethnographic landscape.

The findings indicate that the ethnographic landscape is constructed through linguistic and narrative strategies that shape both the perception and evaluation of space. Descriptive language functions not only as a medium of representation, but also as a tool for meaning-making. Special emphasis is placed on evaluative vocabulary, which establishes interpretative frameworks and defines spatial hierarchies. Within this process, the construction of the “Other” plays a central role, as the local population is represented as a distinct social entity, while the region itself is framed as a culturally specific environment.

At the same time, the text reveals a strong conceptualization of the relationship between nature and human activity, in which the environment operates as a formative force. Human existence is not presented as independent from nature; rather, it is closely intertwined with it, and social and economic practices are shaped by environmental conditions. This perspective results in a model where natural and social factors are interdependent and collectively define the structure of the space.

The study also highlights the influence of imperial perspectives on the narrative, which shape the classification and evaluation of the region. The Caucasus, including Upper Adjara, is represented as a space of exploration, description, and knowledge production, where local realities are integrated into broader intellectual and political frameworks. In this context, Uvarova’s narrative cannot be understood as purely descriptive; it constitutes an interpretative representation shaped by the political and cultural paradigms of the period.

The study concludes that Uvarova’s text functions simultaneously as a valuable historical source and as an interpretative narrative through which Upper Adjara is constructed as a peripheral, culturally diverse, and historically multi-layered space. This dual nature defines the analytical value of the text and necessitates a critical approach that considers both empirical data and the conditions of their interpretation.

Ultimately, the research demonstrates that the ethnographic landscape is not merely a reflection of reality, but a process of knowledge production through which space acquires meaning and becomes an object of historical and cultural analysis. This approach contributes to the advancement of Caucasus regional studies and supports the integration of the concept of ethnographic landscape into contemporary theoretical frameworks in the humanities.

Keywords  Ethnographic Landscape; Upper Adjara; Southwestern Georgia; Praskovia Uvarova; Travel Writing; Discourse Analysis; Cultural Memory; Caucasus Studies.