Field investigation of the mythical “Gold Sands” of the ancient Colchis Kingdom and modern discussion on the Argonauts’ expedition

Abstract

According to Greek mythology and historical sources the ancient Georgian Kingdom of Colchis was rich in gold and the natives mined this noble metal from the rivers, using special wooden vessels and sheepskins. The Argonauts were a small band of heroes in ancient Greek mythology who, accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest to find the Golden Fleece. Modern geological research conducted by us in the Svaneti region (Greater Caucasus) has shown that this area is a 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 that the bedrock and placer gold contents of this region give grounds to believe that there was enough gold 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 propose that the myth about the expedition of the Argonauts in quest of the Golden Fleece to the Colchis Kingdom was a real event and that the main purpose of that mission was to obtain gold and gold mining technology.