Khizas Naeklesiari

The site of Khizas Naeklesiari and the surrounding abandoned village footprint offer a profound glimpse into the medieval rural life of the Aspindza municipality. Situated high in the volcanic landscape of Samtskhe-Javakheti, this archaeological site preserves the structural echoes of a community that once revolved entirely around its local parish church. The term Naeklesiari directly refers to the physical remains of a former Christian church, which today is marked by visible foundation walls, worked stone blocks, and historical masonry scattered across the rugged terrain.

The Medieval Settlement Structure & Architecture

The cultural landscape here consists of two distinct archaeological layers: the Nasoflari (the footprint of the deserted village) and the central ecclesiastical structure. Built primarily using local volcanic basalt, the church foundations demonstrate traditional Georgian dry-stone and lime-mortar construction techniques typical of the region's medieval architectural school. The defensive positioning and spatial arrangement of the domestic dwellings around the religious core reflect how communities organized themselves against both harsh alpine climates and historical territorial incursions. Fragmented architectural details point to a simple, durable hall-church design meant to serve the spiritual and communal needs of local highlanders.

Historical Significance and Regional Context

During the golden age of the United Kingdom of Georgia and into the later feudal periods, small settlements like Khiza formed the backbone of the agrarian economy in the Mtkvari river basin hinterlands. The abandonment of the village and the gradual decay of the church mirror the geopolitical shifts that struck Samtskhe-Javakheti in the late medieval eras, particularly following Ottoman expansion. Today, the quiet ruins provide essential context for understanding the density of historical settlements in southern Georgia, serving as an open-air archive of regional stonemasonry, shifting demographics, and medieval ecclesiastical geography.