Armeno-Georgian Connections through the Lens of Palimpsested Manuscripts

Abstract

The literary heritage of the first millennium produced by Armenians and Georgians offers clear evidence of interactions between two nations that developed in constant contact with one another. While research on Armeno-Georgian palimpsests is still ongoing, current available data show that there are more Georgian manuscripts with Armenian lower texts than contrarywise. The chronological distribution of these palimpsests suggests that Armenian reused Georgian manuscripts only in modern times (16th/17th centuries), while Georgian palimpsestation of Armenian manuscripts took place already from the 9th century through the 14th century. In order to answer key questions such as the whereabouts, motivations, and circumstances of palimpsestation of Armenian or Georgian manuscripts further research based on 14C analysis in combination with parchment and ink analysis will be necessary to ascertain both the chronology and the geographical origin of the lower layers of the manuscripts under examination.