There is no research about the late Paleolithic
graphic images from Agtsa cave, except for one article, published by the
archeologist V. Soloviov, the discoverer of the cave.
The Agtsa cave is located in 8 km from Akhali Athoni, the township
Anukhva, in Abkhazia. There are pictures scribbled on the walls of the
cave, situated on inaccessible rock. These pictures fit in to three
chronological periods. On the left side of the entrance, on the south wall,
there are images of the late Paleolithic period. They are kept on the lowest
level of the wall, dispersed like a strap. The plane is covered with a
multitude of lines and dashes. On that plane a figure, branching off the
vertical axis, is expressly carved. The geometric combinations, made by
unpractised hands, are distinctive for different countries - central Europe,
Africa, etc. The closest parallels are the graphic figures of Mgvimevi
near the Chiatura, in the Imereti region.
According to ethnographical data these figures
express the cosmogony of ancient people. They are related to the vital
elements of the universe, with the sun, fire, earth, and water. It appears
that these elements were the objects of magic observances taking
place in this cave. In Agtsa the sacred concepts are expressed specifically
by the conventional signs of the sunray, rain and vegetal motif. The vegetal
motif is most remarkable and is considered as an early form of the tree
of life.
By its style of execution and technique Agtsa is a typical sample of
the late Paleolithic period. It extends the research area from the point
of view of exploring pictures scribbled on rock.