








































Georgian Geographical Journal 

 

Cartographic Heritage of the Institute of 
Geography 
Guliko Liparteliani1,*  
1 TSU, Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, Tbilisi, Georgia 
* Corresponding author: guliko.liparteliani@tsu.ge 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction 
Cartographic heritage, encompassing historical maps, atlases, and cartographic documents, plays a 

crucial role in understanding the evolution of human knowledge, culture, and spatial awareness. These 
artefacts are not merely tools for navigation; they are rich sources of information that reveal how 
different societies perceived and represented their world across time. Preserving and studying 
cartographic heritage is vital for historical, educational, scientific, and cultural reasons. 

First and foremost, cartographic heritage offers a unique window into the past. Maps reflect the 
geographical knowledge and worldviews of the people who created them. Early maps often combined 
mythological elements with physical geography, revealing the cultural and religious beliefs of their 
time. For example, mediaeval European maps such as the T-O maps placed Jerusalem at the centre of 

Georgian Geographical Journal, 2025, 5(1), 4-8 
© The Author(s) 2025 

 
This article is an open access article distributed under 
the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons 
Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// 
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). 
DOI: https://journals.4science.ge/index.php/GGJ 

Abstract 
The Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography at Ivane Javakhishvili 
Tbilisi State University preserves a rich and multifaceted cartographic legacy, 
yet its chronological development and evaluation remain largely unexamined. 
Georgian cartographic traditions trace their roots to the seminal works of 
Vakhushti Bagrationi (1696–1756), whose Description of the Kingdom of 
Georgia and accompanying atlas marked the birth of Georgian geographic 
science. These foundational works, now part of UNESCO’s Memory of the 
World Register, influenced subsequent generations of Georgian scholars. In 
the early 20th century, Ivane Javakhishvili and Aleksandre Javakhishvili 
significantly advanced historical and geographical research through the 
production of thematic maps, including those representing state borders, 
natural resources, and agricultural zones. Collaborating with topographers 
such as Sergi Tskhakaia, they institutionalized Georgian cartography through 
the establishment of the Cartography Cabinet (1924), which later evolved into 
the Cartographic Institute and merged with the newly founded Institute of 
Geography in 1933. Throughout the Soviet era and into independence, the 
Institute expanded its activities, producing numerous thematic, physical, and 
educational maps, including the 1964 Georgian SSR Atlas—considered the 
country's first national atlas. Pioneers such as A. Aslanikashvili advanced 
cartographic theory, contributing works that gained international recognition, 
while the institute contributed to major projects abroad, such as the National 
Atlas of Cuba. Thematic atlases addressing climate, landscapes, tourism, and 
socio-economic development have remained key outputs, including recent 
region-specific publications like the Kakheti Atlas (2023). Technological 
advancements ushered in the use of GIS and digital mapping for both printed 
and web-based formats, including 3D general maps for educational use. 
Today, the institute continues to integrate traditional geographic knowledge 
with modern cartographic methodologies, developing regional web atlases 
and promoting sustainable development through spatial analysis. The 
evolution of Georgian cartography, deeply rooted in historical scholarship and 
driven by modern scientific needs, reflects a continuous pursuit of geographic 
understanding and national identity through map-making. 

Keywords: cartographic heritage, mathematical basis, geodesy, 
cartographer, topographer, maps, scientific direction 

Citation: Liparteliani, G. Cartographic 
Heritage of the Institute of Geography. 
Georgian Geographical Journal. 2025, 
5(1), 4-8. 
https://doi.org/10.52340/ggj.2025.05.01.01 

mailto:guliko.liparteliani@tsu.ge
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5915-0488


Liparteliani. 2025 5(1) 

the world, reflecting a theological rather than a purely geographic perspective. Through such 
documents, historians gain valuable insight into the intellectual and social contexts of past civilisations. 

In addition to offering historical context, cartographic heritage supports the study of territorial and 
political changes over time. Boundaries of countries, empires, and cities have constantly shifted, and 
historical maps provide records of these changes. They help researchers track the development of 
borders, land ownership, and geopolitical conflicts. This is particularly important in regions with 
complex histories, where maps can serve as evidence in legal or diplomatic discussions about territorial 
rights and cultural claims. 

Moreover, cartographic heritage is invaluable to researchers in many fields beyond history and 
geography. Environmental scientists use old maps to analyse changes in landscapes, forests, coastlines, 
and water bodies. Urban planners and archaeologists examine historical maps to study the growth and 
transformation of cities, the location of ancient roads or settlements, and patterns of land use. By 
comparing past and present maps, they can identify trends and make informed decisions about 
preservation and sustainable development. 

Cartographic documents are also cultural artefacts. They reflect the artistry, craftsmanship, and 
technological capabilities of their time. Many historical maps are visually striking, richly decorated with 
illustrations, elaborate borders, and imaginative depictions of unknown lands. These artistic qualities 
make them important pieces of cultural heritage that deserve to be preserved and exhibited in museums 
and archives. They also have educational value, sparking curiosity and encouraging people to explore 
the past. 

In the digital age, efforts to preserve and digitise cartographic heritage are expanding. Online map 
libraries and digital archives make rare and fragile maps accessible to a global audience. This not only 
protects the physical artefacts from deterioration but also fosters academic research, public engagement, 
and cultural exchange. 

In conclusion, cartographic heritage is far more than a collection of old maps. It is a vital record of 
human thought, exploration, and expression. By studying and preserving these documents, we gain a 
deeper understanding of our past, a clearer perspective on the present, and valuable tools for shaping 
the future. The continued appreciation and protection of cartographic heritage is essential to maintaining 
the richness of our collective memory and cultural identity. 

Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University has a rich 
cartographic heritage; however, its chronological research and evaluation have not been done yet. Those 
who set the life goal of love for their homeland and scientific field created this legacy. Several sciences, 
including cartography, have their fundamentals connected to the historical past. Under the guidance of 
the author, the topographer Evsevi Baramidze transferred the results of Ivane Javakhishvili's historical 
research onto the mathematical basis of the Georgia map. On these maps, Georgia's territory is presented 
in different aspects: state borders (1919), historical content (1913 and 1923), detailed general 
geographic content (1922), and botanical and agronomic areas (1930). The active process of 
construction of Georgian geographical maps has begun after the famous anthropologist Aleksandre 
Javakhishvili (1875-1973) and the experienced topographer-cartographer Sergi Tshkakaia (1880-1966) 
returned to Georgia from Russia. The collaboration between Al. Javakhishvili and S. Tshkakaia began 
in 1920, when Al. Javakhishvili invited cartographer S. Tskhakaia and drawer M. Kavtaradze. At that 
time, S. Tskhakaia headed the geodesic-cartographic services for Transcaucasia and Georgia. Later he 
was the head of the topography-cartography department at TSU and the head of the cartography 
department at the Institute of Geography. The first Georgian language textbooks in geodesy, 
cartography and topography are his. Al. Javakhishvili founded modern Georgian geography, and S. 
Tskhakaia founded modern Georgian cartography. The collaboration of these two scientists left a rich 
cartographic heritage for the educational and scientific directions of geography in the 20th century. 
Glorious Beginning 

The geographer, historian, and cartographer Vakhushti Bagrationi (1696–1756) left two immortal 
works for posterity: the "Description of the Kingdom of Georgia", which includes the history and 
geography of Georgia, and the geographical atlas of Georgia in three parts (1735–1745). These works 
clearly show the exceptionally special education of the author and the thorough knowledge of his 
country. Both works are included in the UNESCO Recollection of the World Register (2013). They are 
translated into French and Russian. As a geographer and cartographer, Vakhushti Bagrationi has no 
predecessor in Georgia; he is considered the founder of Georgian geographical science.  



Liparteliani. 2025 5(1) 

Soviet Georgian Cartographic School 
The discovery and research of the natural and economic resources of Georgia has been the main task 

of geographical science since the 50s of the 20th century. In order to carry out this mission, Al. 
Javakhishvili decided to create geographical institutions upon his arrival in Georgia. In 1924 he founded 
the Georgian Geographical Society and Cartography Cabinet (Javakhishvili, 2015). Here, under the 
leadership of Al. Javakhishvili and S. Tskhakaya, maps of the Caucasus were drawn up and published: 
maps of mineral wealth, hypsometric, orographic, political and administrative, as well as a physical 
map of Georgia, a political-economic map, and a geographical atlas (Javakhishvili, 2015). In 1928, the 
Cartographic Cabinet was transformed into the Cartographic Institute to better provide research with 
maps for scientific and educational purposes. Under the leadership of Al. Javakhishvili and S. 
Tskhakaya, the Institute of Cartography compiled and published a physical map of the Georgian SSR 
(1:400,000), a geographical atlas of the Georgian SSR, a geographic-statistical atlas of Georgia (with 
diagrams and cartograms), and maps of the republics of Adjara, Abkhazia, and the North Caucasus, as 
well as maps of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the Ottoman Empire. Two 12-sheet coloured general-
geographical maps of Georgia on a scale of 1:200,000, created according to international standards, 
deserve special attention. Among the sectoral maps, the vegetation map of Georgia by the botanist N. 
Ketskhoveli and the colourful thematic maps of Al Javakhishvili for the school textbook on the 
geography of Georgia (Javakhishvili, 2015) are worth mentioning. 

The current geographical studies required the training of highly qualified researchers in the fields of 
geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, topography—cartography and economic geography. For this 
purpose, a scientific research institute of geography was established at Tbilisi State University in 1933, 
which was joined by the cartography institute of the geographical society. As a result, Al Javakhishvili's 
numerous efforts to establish a solid scientific foundation for geography were successful. Al 
Javakhishvili headed the institute until 1962 (Javakhishvili, 2015; Aslanikashvili, 1968; VBIG 50, 
1990; Matureli, 1990; Jorbenadze, 1968; Cheishvili, 1977; Kharadze, 2003; Aslanikashvili, 1970). 

In 1945, the Institute of Geography, named after Vakhushti, joined the Academy of Sciences of 
Georgia, which was created on the basis of Tbilisi State University. The name Vakhushti was given to 
the institute in honour of the founder of geographical science, Vakhushti Bagrationi. Three departments 
were established at the institute: general geography, regional geography and cartography (VBIG 50, 
1990). 

Since the 1950s, Al Javakhishvili has collaborated with A. Aslanikashvili, whose topographical maps 
stand out for their high professional level of relief depiction. With the cooperation of Al. Javakhishvili, 
S. Tshkakaia and A. Aslankashvili, methods of depicting the relief of Georgia were elaborated, and 
scientific works were created. Under the editorship of Al. Javakhishvili and A. Aslanikashvili, a 
1:1,000,000 scale physical map of Georgia was published in 1957, which is the best example of relief 
depiction at that time and to this day. 

In the 1950s, providing schools and colleges with maps was a priority. Georgian scientists made 
educational thematic wall maps: climate, soils, plants, natural zones, landscape, zoogeography, 
industry, agriculture, and economics. They were printed in the Georgian and Russian languages, were 
used for years and have not lost their importance even today. 

At the end of the 1950s, Al. Javakhishvili and A. Aslanikashvili developed a complex geographic 
atlas program of Georgia. Scientists from the Institute of Geography and other research institutions of 
the country worked on the content of the thematic maps of the atlas. The compiled maps were discussed 
at the Scientific Council of the Institute of Geography, which was headed by Academician Al. 
Javakhishvili until 1962 and then by Academician T. Davitaia. Atlas maps were drawn up and prepared 
for publication under the leadership of A. Aslanikashvili in the Cartography Department of the Institute. 
In 1964, the Georgian SSR Atlas, which is actually the first national atlas of the country, was printed in 
Georgian and Russian languages at the Tbilisi cartographic factory. The variety and high scientific level 
of the atlas maps represented geography and related sciences well. In 1971, leading scientists of the 
institute were awarded the state prize. 

Since 1965, the institute, under the leadership of Academician T. Davitaia, has become a scientific-
research institution responsible for the geographical study of mountainous countries. This goal was 
reflected in the research directions of cartography: working on theoretical issues, drawing up general 
geographic and thematic maps, sectoral and regional atlases and preparing them for publication. A. 
Aslanikashvili's monographs on the issues of cartography theory received high international praise: 
"Cartography, issues of general theory" (1969) and "Metacartography" (1974). Tosimoto Kanakuba, a 



Liparteliani. 2025 5(1) 

Japanese cartographer, translated Metacartography from Russian into Japanese, leading to its 
publication in Tokyo in 1998. In 1979, A. Aslanikashvili was elected a corresponding member of the 
Georgian Academy of Sciences. In 1980-1981, he was the director of the Institute of Geography until 
his death. 

Climatologists and cartographers of the Institute of Geography participated in the compilation of 
climatic and agroclimatic maps of the National Atlas of Cuba (1970, 1978), for which the director of 
the Institute, Acad. T. Davitaya, was awarded the State Prize of the USSR in 1973. Cartographer M. 
Khabazishvili compiled a polarimetric lunar atlas based on the data of the Abastumani Astrophysical 
Observatory, which, as an important cartographic work, was awarded the F. Bredikhini prize. 

In 1983, an important scientific work—"Landscape Map of the Transcaucasia" (1:600,000)—was 
created in collaboration with the geography institutes of the South Caucasus Republic's Academies of 
Sciences. Its methodical and theoretical foundations were elaborated and implemented in the landscape 
science laboratory of the Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography under the leadership of Davit 
Ukleba. 

In the cartographic department of the Institute, in cooperation with the Institute of Resort Studies, the 
Atlas of Resorts and Resort Resources of the SSR of Georgia was compiled and prepared for publication 
(1989). Based on the maps of the Atlas of the SSR of Georgia published in 1964, the Educational 
Geographical Atlas of Georgia was prepared and published (1992). 
Cartography after Independence of Georgia 

In 1997, in connection with the 300th anniversary of the birth of Vakhushti Bagrationi, the result of 
many years of work in the cartography department of the Institute of Geography was published— the 
atlas of Vakhushti Bagrationi, which included the maps of all three of his atlases. The jubilee edition of 
the Atlas was printed at the Tbilisi cartographic factory. 

In 2006–2009, the second national atlas of Georgia (2012) was compiled and published in the 
cartography–geoinformatics laboratory with the participation of the employees of the Institute of 
Geography and invited scientists. After updating the maps of the socio-economic content of the said 
atlas, within the framework of cooperation with the Department of Geography of the University of 
Giessen, Germany, the atlas was published in English (Stuttgart, 2018). 

The interests of the wider society and the educational sphere required the preparation of the 
geographical atlas of Georgia with a concept different from the traditional one. This was done in the 
reference destination atlas of Georgia, where each topic is presented with a map, text and photographs 
("Geographical Atlas of Georgia", 2018). 

In 1964, plans were made to compile and publish atlases of the regions of Georgia according to 
economic districts, immediately after the publication of the Atlas of the SSR of Georgia. The eastern 
economic district (Kakheti) was selected as the first region, but the atlas was not published. In the 1990s, 
atlases of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and Colchis were compiled in the institute, but they were 
not published either. The institute returned to regional atlas cartography in 2019, and by 2023, the first 
of this series – a complex geographical atlas of the Kakheti region with maps, text and photographs – 
was prepared for publication. The atlas was compiled in the cartography-geoinformatics laboratory, but 
other departments and research centres of the institute also participated. 

To determine the structure of the Atlas, it was necessary to combine the traditionally formed structure 
with modern visions. For instance, the traditional structure considered viticulture and winemaking as 
the primary economic sector of Kakheti. However, this time, one of its components, wine cellars, was 
transferred to the tourism department in the form of agro-tourism facilities. From the environmental 
chapters, the protected areas, as ecotourism objects, also moved to the tourism chapters and acquired a 
different content load—tourist routes are displayed in the protected areas with the appropriate 
infrastructure, text, and photos. 

Thematic chapters of the regional atlas provide an opportunity to enquire into the individual topics, 
enriching the atlas with pragmatic content maps. The atlas can be used as an information base to select 
the priority areas of sustainable development of the region, such as maintaining the population in 
highland settlements, planting perennial crops, identifying shortages of medical services, resort-tourist 
assessment of the environment, etc. 

Atlases published since 2012 are prepared using modern GIS technologies but are presented in 
traditional printed form. Today, the increased interest in Internet information has put new demands on 
cartography. Currently, work is underway on the Kvemo Kartli region atlas, where the visualisation of 
natural resources and socio-economic potential should be carried out using modern cartographic 



Liparteliani. 2025 5(1) 

methodology in the form of a web atlas. We regularly publish articles on the use of the cartographic 
method in various fields, in addition to compiling and publishing geographical atlases. General 
geographic 3-dimensional digital maps of Georgia (1:500000) and the Caucasus (1:800000) were 
compiled for public schools. Maps of various topics and scales have been converted into digital format. 
Conclusion 

The activity of the Institute of Geography during the 90 years since its foundation (1933-2023) shows 
that cartography remains the priority direction of the Institute's scientific research. The Institute of 
Geography established a fairly rich fund to support sectoral scientific research and provide cartographic 
services in the educational field. It is worth mentioning that the Institute of Geography is the only 
institution in the country where geographical atlases of various contents and purposes are compiled and 
prepared for publication. The work will be carried out by a team of cartographers, each member of 
which possesses the latest technological innovations along with traditional methods and enriches the 
atlases with maps of original design. 
Competing interests 

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. 

ORCID iD 

Guliko Liparteliani https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5915-0488 

Reference 
Javakhishvili, A. (2015). Biobibliography. Tbilisi. 

Aslanikashvili, A. (1968). Cartography, issues of general theory. Tbilisi. 

Aslanikashvili, A. (1974). Metacartography, main problems. Tbilisi. Metsniereba.  

Cheishvili, O. (1977). Short Geographical Reference. Tbilisi  

Kharadze, K. & Javakhishvili, Sh. (2003) Georgian travellers, geographers, explorers of nature. The 
Encyclopedic Reference Book. Tbilisi   

Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography 50. 1984, Tbilisi 

Matureli, I. (1990). Cartographic Heritage of Vakhushti Bagrationi. Tbilisi 

Jorbenadze, S. (1968). The short history of Tbilisi University. Tbilisi 

 

Appendix 
1. Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, Academy of Science of Georgian SSR (1964). Atlas of the 
Georgian SSR. Tbilisi-Moscow 

2. Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography (1992). Educational Geographical Atlas of Georgia. Tbilisi: 
Ganatleba 

3. Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography (1989). Georgian Resorts and Resort Resources. Tbilisi-
Moscow 

4. Vakhushti Bagrationi. Atlas of Georgia, XVIII century. Jubilee edition (1997). Tbilisi: Cartography Factory 

5. TSU, Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography (2012). National Atlas of Georgia. Tbilisi: Cartography 
Factory 

6. National Atlas of Cuba. Havana _ Moscow. Publishing House GUGK, 1970, 132 p. 

7. Polarimetric atlas of the moon. Publishing house “Metsniereba”, Tbilisi, 1982, 31 p.  

8. Nana Bolashvili (ed.), Andreas Dittmann (ed.), Lorenz King (ed.), Vazha Neidze (ed.). (2018). National Atlas 
of Georgia. Franz Steiner Verlag. 

 

https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5915-0488
https://dspace.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/440529
https://dspace.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/440529
https://iverieli.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/440508
https://iverieli.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/440508
https://iverieli.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/440483
https://iverieli.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/440483
https://iverieli.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/440539
https://iverieli.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/440515
https://iverieli.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/440515
https://www.ign.es/web/catalogo-cartoteca/resources/html/009329.html
https://iverieli.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/440148/browse?type=subject&order=ASC&rpp=20&value=%E1%83%9B%E1%83%97%E1%83%95%E1%83%90%E1%83%A0%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1+%E1%83%9E%E1%83%9D%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%A0%E1%83%98%E1%83%9B%E1%83%94%E1%83%A2%E1%83%A0%E1%83%A3%E1%83%9A%E1%83%98+%E1%83%90%E1%83%A2%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%A1%E1%83%98
https://www.steiner-verlag.de/en/National-Atlas-of-Georgia/9783515120579
https://www.steiner-verlag.de/en/National-Atlas-of-Georgia/9783515120579
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5915-0488

