70, 54, 834… In first sight it looks like just numerals. In truth, they embody the fruitful life and activity of the prominent Uzbek scholar, public figure and tutor Edvard Vasilyevich Rtveladze. This year he turns 70, 54 of which he devoted to science and presented the world with more than 830 priceless scientific works. Celebrations took place in the Center of National Arts, organized by the Fund Forum and Scientific-Research Institute of Art History of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan.

First-rate scholar in history, archeology, numismatics, culture and art in central Asia and neighboring countries Edvard Rtveladze made a considerable contribution to the development of the country’s social sciences. It was noted at the jubilee celebration evening that was attended by representatives of academic and creative communities of the republic, as well as the diplomatic corps, friends, colleagues and students of the prominent academician.

Edvard Rtveladze is the academician of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Doctor of History, Professor, member of the Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, twofold laureate of the state prizes, author of more than eight hundred scientific works, published in Uzbekistan and abroad. Those including books Civilizations, State and Cultures of Central Asia, published by the Fund Forum in English and Japanese languages. The book is about the history of civilizations and states of Central Asia region, interrelations of cultures of various countries of Eurasian continent. The Russian language version of the book was awarded the State Prize of Uzbekistan in sphere of science and technology.

Edvard Rtveladze keeps amazing with his scientific discoveries and creative longevity. The achievements this scholar gained let the world to explore Uzbekistan as the ancient and great civilization with old historical and moral roots.

Scientific-expeditionary activity of Edvard Rtveladze served the role model of true and devoted service to science, traditions of his outstanding predecessors and tutors Mikhail Masson and Galina Pugachenkova, founders of archeological school that turned the ground that even today enriches the historical science of Uzbekistan with new achievements and new generations of scholars.

“Edvard Rtveladze has made plenty of discoveries,” notes the renowned scholar-historian Margarita Philonovich. “One of them is the Choch numismatics. He systemically studied and enriched this field with scientific content. We started our joint work in Khonobod settlement that turned a true Klondike in point of discovering coins dating back to the early Middle Ages. We found them in archeological layers, so all of them were dated. And that the creation of Choch numismatics had the scientific base determined its destiny as the science. Another object of our research was Khonqa settlement. These two major objects laid the basis for the work of Edvard Rtveladze that was resulted with the creation of a brilliant scientific work History of Numismatics of Choch.”

Edvard Rtveladze is a man of high culture who adores Uzbekistan, its land and history. The scholar studied huge strata of history and culture of the region, old and new routes of the Great Silk Road, blazes new trails in science, expanding its boarders in the world space. Edvard Rtveladze has made huge number of discoveries in antique archeology, art history, Middle Ages, as well as conducts long-term studies in Kampirtepa settlement.

“For many years we have been working together, especially in the field of statehood history,” tells Doctor of History Dilorom Alimova, head of the department at the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan. “Fifteen years ago we planed to publish the three volume edition History of Statehood of Uzbekistan. For today, the first volume of it has been published covering the ancient period. Edvard Rtveladze acted the duty editor of this book. It should be noted that within it he managed to publish a number of other scientific works. The last one is the book Great Indian Road that existence of which he proved by his study of written sources and archeological data.”

“In this book I give proof to the existence many centuries ago of the Great Indian Road,” tells Edvard Rtveladze. “It is older the great Silk Road to 200-300 years, and a few knows this road. It was a transcontinental route uniting at that period Europe and Asia. A number of articles had been published on the theme starting from the 19th century, yet there was none of monograph. I have gathered a great number of archeological data, valuable written sources and witnessing of travelers. Hope that book would evoke interest in the wider public. This is my last major monograph to which I put much effort. It contains lots of maps and pictures. I know that my Japanese and Indian colleagues are waiting for this issue for to get acquainted with the book’s content and later translate it.”

Edvard Rtveladze for many years supervise the archeological expedition, works as a head of the department of history of art at the Institute of Art History of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, train specialists in art history, archeology, history, museum workers. Professional credo of the academician is inseparable from his human and civil position. As the member of the Board of Trustees of the Fund Forum and Senate of Oliy Majlis, Edvard Rtveladze hugely contributes into the social-political and cultural life of the country.

Within the jubilee celebrations there have been organized the presentation of Edvard Rtveladze’s new books To the Glory of Science, Recollecting the Past and scientific bibliography of the scholar, as well as the opening of the exhibition Traces of Civilization – Kampirtepa.

UT File

EDVARD VASILYEVICH RTVELADZE was born in Borjomi, Georgia, in 1942. He graduated from the Faculty of History of the Tashkent State University, defended thesis in Moscow. He is the laureate of Beruniy State Prize (1985), member of the panel of the Higher Certification Commission, member of editorial boards of many academic magazines. In 1999, the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan decorated Rtveladze with the gold medal For Outstanding Contribution to Culture Study and for the book Great Silk Road. Edvard Rtveladze earned the diploma of the Academy of Sciences for the best research in sphere of liberal arts. In 2001, he was awarded the medal For Great Merits. He was also decorated with the order of Honor of the Republic of Georgia.

Created by him in the late 90s of the 20th century of the Tokhariston archeological expedition, recommenced the study of the ancient settlement Kampirtepa, started in 1980s, where for the first time in archeological practice of Central Asia there was made a full excavation of a settlement dating back to the 1st-2nd centuries AC.

Works of Edvard Rtveladze are published in various countries, including France, Japan, UK, US. Participant of many archeological conferences the academician read lectures in universities and research institutions of Washington, London, Paris, Turin, Nicosia, Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo, Stockholm, Moscow, Zurich, and others.

Edvard Rtveladze is a scientific editor of a hundred of editions, including those devoted to jubilees of cities and outstanding historical personalities of Uzbekistan: Amir temut in World History, Khiva – City of a Thousand Domes, Light from Far Past, Jaloliddin Manguberdi, Termiz – Ancient and Young City at Crossroads of Great Roads and others. (Source: “Uzbekistan Today” newspaper)