eee: 
342 Capt. Koschkull on the Caucasus. 
valley—if such it may be called—drained by the Rion and 
Kur, it forms a barrier limiting the influence of the Black 
scenery, have made it the favorite abode of many nations 
Not only do the writings of the ancient historians, Herodotus 
and Strabo, prove that this country was inhabited at a tm 
very remote from the present, but the traces of human occupt 
tion of still earlier date scattered over all portions of it, indicate 
that anterior to the historic period it was possessed by various 
races greatly differing in their degree of civilization. a 
tone implements are frequently found in the valley or 
Araxes, and in the old salt mines of the same region ; em 
which are regarded as the most ancient known, and as pro 
the oldest monuments of human industry that now exist. | 
In the mountains of Karthlo-Imeritia are excavated (7% 
lodyte’’) houses, and an entire city has been discovered ii he 
out of the rocky walls which border the narrow valley ° 
niver Ljokhwa, an affluent of the Kur. North of Mt. the city 
. on the summit of a hill, are to be seen the ruins of he 
nawyt, which, according to historical records, wThis city 
capital of Armenia, more than 2,000 years B. C. the rivet 
was then situated on the banks of the Araxes, but te 
wos Leger at the distance of seven or jr gee W 
my colleagues, M. Guileff, has lately found in 
valleys of the Caucasus, not far from he eastern shore of te 
melange Ab =f ere 
casus the tradition exists “that these so-called tombs ¥ wat 
tote ee of a people who lived here, and re a 
wut tor them by their ne} iants.” Un Us. 
sula of Taman nd : eir neighbors the giants.” ch isat- 
remains are found throughout southern Russia, and 
south as the base of the Great Caucasus. 
