Spatial and Chronological Continuity of the Necropolis Landscape System in the Black Sea Urban Space:The Case of Gonio-Apsaros
Keywords:
Black Sea, Gonio-Apsaros, landscape archaeology, necropolis landscape, cultural memory, hagiographyAbstract
This article is devoted to a systematic interpretation of burial practices within the archaeological space of Gonio–Apsaros and to the conceptual modeling of the “necropolis landscape” as an integrated system of individual burial sites. The necropolis landscape encompasses both archaeologically attested and hypothetical, narrative, and still-active burial spaces, which together reflect the chronological depth and cultural continuity of the territory within a unified framework. The study demonstrates that the necropolis landscape of Gonio–Apsaros constitutes an integral and central—not peripheral—component of the metalandscape of this unique reserve, essential for understanding its historical and cultural dynamics. In this perspective, the necropolis landscape serves as a foundation for archaeological interpretation as well as for heritage protection strategies and the development of preventive research approaches. The research was conducted within the framework of the project “Metacognitive Archaeology: Unused Opportunities and Strategic Perspectives for the Development of the Archaeological–Architectural Space of Gonio–Apsaros”, supported by the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia. The study is situated within the field of metacognitive archaeology, which integrates diverse archaeological approaches within a unified conceptual platform.
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