Life in the Mountains of Adjara
Expedition in Adjara. Batumi, Georgia Summer ‘08

Here I introduce the series of children and the elderly genre portraits which I was taking during my travel to the Mountains of Adjara region.

Adjara is situated in the south-western corner of Georgia. It is washed by the eastern end of the Black Sea, and bordered by Turkey to the south.
Like the entire Georgia, Adjara had an intense and diversified history. The region has been known since ancient periods. According to historicians, its territory was inhabited since the Stone Age. The monuments of this age are located in the mountainous resort of Beshumi. The Chorokhi basin was one of the main centers of bronze metallurgy. Hence, the great amount of monuments belonging to the Bronze and Iron Ages.
In the ancient world it had active cultural and trade relations with the kingdoms of Colcha and Diaokhi.
Georgian chronicles first mention Adjara in the 3rd century BC as part of the Kartli Kingdom. Here Christianity was cradled in Georgia. This important historic event is connected with Christ’s Apostle Andrew the First who was the first to preach Christianity in Adjara.
Gonio-Apsaros Fortress, near the town of Batumi, also known as the monumental Colchic citadel, represents the most appreciated monument of the Adjaran history and an important research field for archaeology to this day. Besides, here has been found the grave of St. Mathias, one of the most important Christian sanctities. He is considered the twelfth apostle instead of Judas Iscariot and spent last years of his life in Adjara. He was buried here.

Architecture, art, craft, writing and leather processing were highly developed in the Medieval age. Adjara was conquered In XVI century by Ottoman Empire until its liberation and reunion to Princedom of Guria. It was conquered again In 1614 by the Ottomans and remained under their domination for more than 260 years, until 1878. During all those years Adjara never bent under the Ottoman Empire. The Adjaran population used to rebel, continued to follow Christianity, preserved its own language and passed Orthodox and Georgian traditions and customs from generation to generation. As a consequence of the Russian-Turkish conflict in 1878, Adjara was reunited back to the mother Georgia.
XIX century is the beginning of new a era in the history of Adjara. The region began to follow the path of a new economic and social reorganization and development. After becoming part of the Soviet Union, in 1921, Adjara was declared Autonomous Republic. It retains the status up to this day.
During the XX century, under the Soviet leadership, Adjara was developing within the frames of common Soviet space.
1990 is the year Georgia declared its independence.
In 1999 the Autonomous Republic of Adjara became a member of the Assembly of European Regions.
As a result of the “Rose Revolution” and famous November 2003 events, in May 2004 the Adjaran population chose for a new epoch following the path of democratic revival and reorganization.

Bibliography:
www.adjara.ge/en/index.php?page=history
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjara