Archaeological work has resumed inside Gonio Fortress near Batumi, with excavations now under way at three separate areas. Teams have reported finds from the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods among the latest material from the site.
Key discoveries
Experts highlighted a silver coin struck in Constantinople during the reign of Emperor Justinian I (527–565 AD). Officials said it is the first such coin recorded from the area under current research.
Archaeologists also uncovered remains of a large stone structure and a thick layer of roof tiles near the fortress's southern gate. The Gonio-Apsaros site is one of the oldest fortified settlements on Georgia's Black Sea coast and has been studied for decades, but seasonal digs continue to add new layers to its history.
