Application of physical-chemical methods for the investigation of construction technology in medieval Abkhazia and problems of dating

In the paper a chemical composition of binding mortar used for construction of fortresses and temples in Abkhazia is discussed. Construction technology is regarded as possible chronological marker. It was established that in constructions of earlier period mostly lime mortar was used. During the Roman period all constructions were erected with application of lime mortar, which characteristic of the Roman technologies of construction. Mortars of later epochs contain insignificant admixture of sand (up to 1/4). Then proportion of sand increased, reaching 1/3 (the Anakopia temple of the 11 th century). In structures of the 15 th-17 th centuries ratio of sand and lime is about 1:1. In some cases sand essentially dominates over lime, but this kind of mortar does not constitute an independent type and should be regarded as traces of an urgent repair when sufficient quantity of lime was unavailable.