A modern field investigation of the mythical 'gold sands' of the ancient Colchis Kingdom and 'Golden Fleece' phenomena

摘要

According to Greek mythology and historical sources the ancient Georgian Kingdom of Colchis was rich of "gold sands" and the natives mined this metal from the rivers, using special wooden vessels and sheepskins. Modern geological research conducted by us in the Svaneti region (Greater Caucuasus) has shown that this area is the province of the former Colchis Kingdom where it was possible to obtain abundant gold from the mountain rivers using the methods unique to this region. We think, from our investigations, that the bedrock and placer gold contents of this region give grounds to believe that there was enough gold in this region to describe Svaneti as "the country rich of this noble metal". After comparing the geological data, artifacts, myths and historical sources, we share the viewpoint of the Roman historian Apian Alexandrine (90-170 AD) and suppose that the myth about expedition of Argonauts in quest of the "Golden Fleece" to the Colchis Kingdom was a real event and that the main purpose of this mission was to obtain gold and sheepskin (fleece) technique of gold mining.