Edvard Rtveladze

Edvard Vasilevich Rtveladze (14 May 1942, Borjomi, Georgian SSR, USSR – 10 February 2022, Tashkent, Uzbekistan) was a Soviet, Georgian, and Uzbek scientist. His credentials included membership in the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Doctor of Historical Sciences, the academician from the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and tenure as a professor. As a historian, archaeologist, numismatist, cultural expert, and artist, he specialized in the study of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the surrounding regions. He chaired the scientific council of the World Society for the Study, Preservation, and Popularization of Uzbekistan's Cultural Heritage and authored numerous scholarly publications, monographs, reports, and essays.
==Biography==
He was born on May 14, 1942, in the city of Borjomi, Georgian SSR.. The Rtveladze family's residence was located in a picturesque spot along the road from Borjomi to Likani, directly across from the park that housed Emperor Alexander III's palace. The Borjomi Nature Reserve is a vast expanse of dense forest located behind their residential area. This family included the father, mother, two sisters named Nelli and Tamara (unfortunately, Tamara passed away at the age of 13 due to meningitis), brother Valeriy, and Edward himself. Edward's siblings were born in Kislovodsk, a city where the family resided before the war.
In 1946, Edward's father made the decision to return to Kislovodsk, a city located in the Stavropol Krai region of Russia. Edward, accompanied by his mother, brother, and sisters, subsequently reunited with his father. During this period, Edward developed a keen fascination for travel, nature, and history. After a year, they relocated to the Bayazet district. Edward began his educational journey in 1949 when he enrolled in the first grade at School No. 17. As he progressed through his academic years, he transitioned to School No. 14, where he continued his studies in the upper grades.
In February 1949, at the age of 13, Edward's sister, Tamara, tragically succumbed to meningitis, a prevalent disease during that era. In August 1950, the Rtveladze family moved to the Zelenchukskaya stanitsa in Russia, where they resided for three years. During his formative years. During his time in Kislovodsk, there were no educational or scientific institutions dedicated to archaeology or history in the area.
His father, Vasily Iosifovich, lived in a remote mountain village in Upper Racha from the late 19th to the early 20th century, where a teacher from Kutaisi would visit during the winter before the pass closed and leave after its reopening. In his childhood and youth, he spoke only Georgian and Svan language and learned Russian after moving to Tbilisi. Despite becoming proficient in Russian, he retained a strong Georgian accent. His mother, Anna Timofeyevna, completed three grades of a gymnasium in Nikolaev and Sevastopol, where her father, Timofey Yakovlevich Khonin, worked on the construction of a warship. In addition to their native Georgian and Svan language, he spoke Turkish and Persian, which he acquired during his time in Persia and Turkey before the revolution.Starting in the summer of 1958, Edward initiated independent field archaeology work in collaboration with his classmate and friend, Vladimir Bagdasarov, who would later become a translator in Egypt and subsequently oversee a department at the library of the Soviet Academy of Sciences.
Edward Rtveladze obtained his degree in history and archaeology from National University of Uzbekistan in 1967. From 1967 to 1969, he served as a laboratory assistant and junior research fellow at the Institute of Art Studies within the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan. He taught at the Tashkent Institute of Theatre and Fine Arts from 1970 to 1973. Between 1973 and 1976, he worked as a junior research fellow at the Institute of Art Studies within the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan. From 1976 to 1985, he held the position of senior research fellow at the Institute of Art Studies within the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan. He subsequently served as the department chairman at the Institute of Art Studies within the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan from 1985 to 2009.
==Scientific work==
Edward Rtveladze's scholarly pursuits encompassed the study of ancient and medieval history and archaeology in Central Asia, alongside investigations into the art and culture of these eras. He also delved into related historical disciplines such as numismatics and epigraphy. As of the mid-2000s, he had actively participated in over 80 archaeological expeditions, spanning regions including Central Asia, the Caucasus, Cyprus, France, and Japan. Leading the Tocharistan Expedition, Edward Rtveladze directed archaeological excavations at the significant site of Kampir Tepe, an ancient city from the Kushan Empire era. Under his guidance, collaborative commemorative monographs were produced, shedding light on historical cities in Uzbekistan and eminent figures from the past. Notable works include "Amir Timur in World History," "Khiva - City of a Thousand Domes," "Shakhrisabz," "Termez," "Jalal al-Din Mangburni," and others. By 2012, Edward Rtveladze had authored a total of 830 scholarly publications.
In recognition of his contributions, he was honored with the "State Prize of the Uzbek SSR", named after Hamza, in 1985. Edward Rtveladze achieved the academic title of "Doctor of Historical Sciences" in 1989, followed by the prestigious designation of professor in 1992. In 1995, he earned a place in the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan.
In 2016, Edward initiated the "Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in World Collections" project, aiming to document and gather historical artifacts, manuscripts, and monuments from Uzbekistan's ancient history, housed in museum collections across the globe. These valuable resources were made accessible to scholars and the general public, with findings compiled into books and encyclopedia articles, and discussions held at academic conferences and media forums. The inaugural conference in Tashkent and Samarkand on May 15-16, 2017, marked the establishment of the World Scientific Society for the Study, Preservation, and Popularization of Uzbekistan's Cultural Heritage.
In 2019, Edward made an announcement regarding the possible discovery of the lost Greco-Bactrian city of Alexandria Oxiana during archaeological excavations, unveiling significant scientific findings at the ancient site of Kampir Tepe.
In 2021, he paid tribute to his late wife by publishing a bibliography titled "L. L. Rtveladze: Life, Science, Family."
Edward Rtveladze passed away on February 10, 2022.
==Family==
Lydia Lvovna (1941-14.04.2020), born Bukinich, was his wife. She was the granddaughter of D.D. Bukinich, an archaeologist and archivist who served as the director of the archives in the State Administration for the Preservation and Use of Cultural Heritage Objects in Uzbekistan for an extended period.
Throughout their 50-year marriage, Edward and Lydia had three children:
- Anna, their eldest daughter, is a poet and a graduate of the philological department.
- Grigory, their son, is a football enthusiast who was employed by the Uzbekistan Football Federation in 2015.
- Nelli, their daughter, graduated from the Tashkent Institute of Culture and possesses a passion for music and theater.
Edward Rtveladze is survived by two granddaughters and two grandsons.
==Awards==
* State Prize of the Uzbek SSR named after Beruni: 1985
* Golden Medal and Diploma from the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan "For Outstanding Contribution to the Study of Culture": 1999
* Order "Buyuk xizmatlari uchun" (Order of Outstanding Merit): 2001
* Order "Mehnat shuhrati" (For Labor Glory): 2003
* State Prize of Uzbekistan in the field of Science and Technology, 2nd Degree: 2007
* Order "El-yurt hurmati" (Honored for Services to the Homeland): 2017
* He also holds various diplomas and awards.
===Foreign===
* Order of Honor: 2001, Georgia
Category:1942 births
Category:People from Borjomi
Category:Georgian people
Category:National University of Uzbekistan alumni
Category:Scientists
Category:2022 deaths