Svan towers

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Svan towers (Georgian: სვანური კოშკი, romanized: svanuri k'oshk'i) refers to the tower houses built as defensive dwellings in the Georgian historical region of Svaneti (present-day Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti). These towers are unique to the region and were primarily built between the 9th and 12th centuries, during the Georgian Golden Age. However, the origins of the tower likely date back to prehistory. There are around 3500 Svan towers in Svaneti. The Svan towers are either freestanding or attached to residential houses. The towers usually have 3–5 storeys, and the thickness of the walls decreases with height, giving them a tapering appearance. The upper floors of the towers are exclusively used for defense, with machicolated parapets and embrasures providing cover when throwing projectiles. The connected houses are usually 80–130 square meters in ground area and have 2 floors: the ground floor of the house, called the machub, and the upper floor, called the darbazi. The ground floor is a single hall with a hearth and provides accommodation for both people and animals, with elaborately decorated wooden partitions separating the two spaces. The second floor provides summer accommodation and storage.