A LONG‐FORGOTTEN GOLD DISC FROM THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE NECROPOLIS (KURGAN XVII), AT TRIALETI. SOUTH CAUCASUS: A NEW LOOK AT THE DISC WITH ASTRAL MOTIFS

Summary The cults associated with celestial bodies – such as the stars, moon, sun and other sky phenomena – during the Bronze Age form a central focus in the study of protohistoric communities in certain regions, including Northern Europe. Numerous interpretations have been proposed on how to approach this complex and intriguing subject. The vast territories of the South Caucasus have yielded a substantial number of items of Bronze Age date that suggest a sophisticated framework related to solar or, more broadly, astral cults, the last a topic that remains relatively under‐researched. This paper examines a single but highly significant example: a gold disc uncovered during excavations in Kurgan XVII of the Trialeti necropolis, that features symbolic representations of various astral motifs. This artefact, unique in its form, not only offers insights into the perception of the celestial sphere but also provides an opportunity for comparative analysis with similar items from protohistoric Europe.