Mestia. Five photos.

This collection includes rare photos of Mestia – main town in Upper Svaneti, historical province in Georgia. The town is well-known for the stone defensive towers (Svan towers). Most of them date back to the period between the 9th and 12th centuries. Since 1996, these traditional towers have been protected as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Especially interesting is Svan-hunter in traditional costume with ibex head photo. Svans, a subgroup of Georgians, have kept their traditions because of the isolation at various times throughout history. Hunting is still a popular avocation of Svans today. In 1921 Svans rebelled against the recently established Bolshevik regime in Georgia, but the uprising was crushed, and the chief rebels were executed. However, the Soviet regime was established only in 1924. During this time roads were built, an air service was established and industries such as mining and lumbering were developed. In such a way, Soviet authorities tried to change the traditional life of Svans. That's why movie Salt for Svanetia (1930; by Mikhail Kalatozov) and other propaganda films about 'an underdeveloped region' Svanetia and 'people of the past' appeared.