3,000-Year-Old Mega Fortress Discovered at Dmanisis Gora Using Drone Technology!
Recent research using advanced drone mapping has revealed that Dmanisis Gora, a 3,000-year-old mountainside fortress in the South Caucasus, is far larger and more significant than previously thought. This discovery has reshaped our understanding of settlement dynamics during the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages, offering a fresh perspective on ancient urbanism in this culturally rich region.
Photo Credit: Nathaniel Erb-Satullo
Drone Mapping Reveals Hidden Layers
Nestled in the Caucasus Mountains, Dmanisis Gora has long been recognised as a key archaeological site. However, new drone mapping technology has allowed researchers to uncover its true scale. A joint team led by Dr. Nathaniel Erb-Satullo of Cranfield University’s Forensic Institute and Dimitri Jachvliani of the Georgian National Museum has been exploring the site since 2018. Their findings, recently published in Antiquity, showcase the fortress as a critical case study in ancient settlement patterns and population movements.
Initial excavations focused on a fortified promontory between two steep gorges. However, a site visit in autumn—when vegetation had receded—revealed extensive fortifications and stone structures stretching far beyond the known inner fortress. The team employed drones to capture nearly 11,000 high-resolution images, which were processed using specialised software to create detailed digital elevation models and orthophotos.
These advanced datasets unveiled subtle topographic features, enabling the team to map fortification walls, burial sites, field systems, and other structures with remarkable precision.
Photo Credit: N. L. Erb-Satullo et al., Antiquity (2025)
A Fortress of Unprecedented Scale
The drone survey revealed that the fortress’s outer settlement, protected by a kilometre-long fortification wall, is over 40 times larger than originally estimated. The team also combined drone imagery with declassified Cold War-era satellite images to distinguish ancient structures from more recent agricultural modifications.
The findings underscore the site’s importance at the crossroads of Europe, the Eurasian Steppe, and the Middle East. The fortress’s impressive size and defensive architecture suggest it was a major settlement during a period of growing social and political complexity.
Seasonal Use and Mobility
Interestingly, evidence suggests that the fortress was not continuously occupied. Instead, it may have been a seasonal hub influenced by mobile pastoralist networks. These populations likely contributed to periodic growth and contraction in the surrounding settlement. This aligns with theories that pastoral mobility remained a significant factor in Late Bronze and Early Iron Age societies, even in large, fortified settlements.
Despite the extensive investment in stone architecture, the site exhibits signs of low-intensity occupation, further supporting the idea of seasonal use.
Photo Credit: N. L. Erb-Satullo et al., Antiquity (2025)
Challenging Assumptions About the Bronze Age Collapse
The discoveries at Dmanisis Gora are prompting archaeologists to reassess the impact of the so-called “Bronze Age Collapse” in the South Caucasus. While much of the Near East and Eastern Mediterranean experienced upheaval during this period, the South Caucasus appears to have maintained remarkable continuity in settlement patterns and material culture.
Ongoing excavations have uncovered tens of thousands of artefacts, including pottery fragments and animal bones, shedding light on the daily lives of the fortress’s inhabitants. Future studies aim to delve deeper into population density, livestock practices, and agricultural systems at the site.
A Window Into Ancient Urbanism
Dmanisis Gora stands as a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of ancient societies. By combining traditional excavation techniques with cutting-edge technology, researchers are piecing together a more nuanced understanding of settlement dynamics in the South Caucasus. This 3,000-year-old mega fortress is not just a relic of the past but a window into the complexities of human life in a region that has long been a cultural crossroads.
As studies continue, Dmanisis Gora promises to yield even more insights into the ancient world, reshaping our understanding of early urbanism and the interplay between mobility and settlement in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages.