BLACKSMITHING IN MOUNTAINOUS AND EASTERN SAMEGRELO (MYTHOLOGY, TRADITIONS, TOPONYMY, ORAL STORIES)

Abstract

The topic of the article is metalworking and blacksmithing in Mountainous and East Samegrelo. It is suggested that blacksmithing was a fairly advanced economic branch in this region. Kolkheti’s long history of copper and bronze mining, processing, and production survived in later times and became the basis for the development of the iron industry. Data about high bronze and iron processing technologies used in West Georgia and its environs are found in various historical written sources. This fact is believed to be depicted in the Argonaut Myth as well.
The evidence of the Region’s strong blacksmithing tradition is the geographical names derived from the root chkad (chedva, which is Georgian for “blacksmithing”). On the other hand, there are toponyms that are connected to blacksmithing, although do not have the root chkad (for instance, Onoshkere meaning a coal bunker, a place where coal was prepared for use in blacksmithing, as well as Saangure, which is a brick furnace for making clay pots and bricks. Probably, pipes of melting furnaces, clay pipes and some other details were also made there). East Samegrelo has more toponyms that refer to blacksmithing than the western part of Samegrelo Region. This fact suggests that blacksmithing was more developed in East and Mountainous Samegrelo than in other parts of Samegrelo Region.
As the field ethnographic data gathered in the mid-XX century evidence, a smithy was revered and a blacksmith was regarded a very valuable and important member of the community, although his social status must have been much more honorable in the earliest days of metallurgy. The smithies were where ritualistic swearing and “anathematizing” (a type of curse) took place. On particular days, blacksmiths would pray to “St. Solomos/Solomon”. Although the most recent field materials do not confirm this practice, sacredness of blacksmith shops is still remembered by the locals. Today, blacksmithing in Samegrelo no longer serves the purpose it once did, though one or two smithies are still working primarily making agricultural tools and equipment.