St Andrew in Samtskhe — Archaeological Proof?

One of the historical regions of Georgia — Samtskhe — spreads across the territory to the south of the Meskheti Ridge: over the basins of the rivers Potskhovi, Kvabliani and the upper reaches of the river Mtkvari (Kiros). According to the old Georgian chronicle of the 11th century, Kartlis Tskhovreba, Samtskhe covered the territory from Tashis-Kari to the passes leading to the Black Sea. Since ancient times, Samtskhe, which derives its name from the Georgian tribe of the Meskhi (or Moskhi, according to ancient Greek sources), ¹ was the region where not only different tribes but also different cultures came into contact; besides, the region had often been the setting of the opposition of diverse political forces.