The Anatori Plague Burial

The Anatori Plague Cemetery is a haunting stone structure located at the confluence of the Argun and Ardoti rivers, just north of Shatili and slightly south of the now-deserted village of Anatori. This eerie site has become a notable stop for tourists traveling from Shatili to Muco.

Once, on the left bank of the Argun River, there existed a small village named Anatori. In 1850, an outbreak of plague erupted in the Ardoti Gorge, affecting Anatori as well. The entire Sisauri clan fell victim to the disease, with the exception of one boy who was tending to livestock in the mountains at the time. The dating of these events to 1850 is somewhat uncertain; while the plague in the Caucasus is well-documented in 1812, little is known about the outbreak of 1850.

In response to the epidemic, stone huts with small windows but no doors were constructed for the afflicted. The sick were placed inside through the roof, which was then sealed with stone slabs, and there they perished. These structures still stand today, and the bones of the deceased can still be seen within.

In Georgia, such a structure is referred to as an “Akladama,” a term that originates from Hebrew and has passed through Christian literature. Akladamas were built in antiquity but fell out of use over time, though some remain in the mountains. The Khevsurian plague prompted a return to this ancient tradition. The Anatori Akladamas serve as the final resting place for the entire Sisauri clan. The deceased from the village of Ardoti were buried in similar Akladamas within the then-uninhabited town of Muco, and these can still be seen today.

Today, Akladamas have become places of remembrance for the deceased. It is customary to leave coins and light candles at the windows of these huts.

These cemeteries present a peculiar attraction. If the flow of tourists continues to grow (and it already has reached significant numbers), the sight of these mountains of human bones may soon become unsettling. What will become of them remains uncertain. However, for now, everything is visible in its original state. Located just 2 to 3 kilometers from Shatili, it is an easy walk to explore this somber yet historically significant site during your free time.