Inscription of the Milestone Discovered in Seid-Abadi Dated to the 1st century of Hegira

Abstract

The objective of the present article is to study the inscription of the milestone of the 1st century of Hegira, discovered in Seid-abadi.Our research is based on the materials available in the archives of Prof. Tsisia Kakhiani and analysis of other milestones found in the Near East.It is noteworthy that this monument is one of the most ancient of the Arabic inscriptions of Georgia. The archives of Prof. TsisiaKakhiani contain several notes regarding the milestone. As is known, erection of milestones and construction of roads were related to the organized planning of the postal service, whichserved the interests of the Caliphate rule.According to V. Krachkovskaya, on the basis of the handwriting and content of the milestone found in Tbilisi, it can be dated to100/718-719, maybe, to the 80s, and this inscription is undoubtedly one of the oldest in the South Caucasus that has reached us.Discovery of a milestone in the given period near Tbilisi must indicate that the capital of Kartli was included in the trade network ofthe Caliphate and was situated on a significant arterial road.