Makhuntseti Bridge, Medieval stone bridge in Keda Municipality, Georgia.
Makhuntseti Bridge is a stone arch bridge over the Adjaristskali River in the village of Makhuntseti, Keda Municipality. It is 24 m long and 2 to 2.5 m wide, narrowest at midspan (2 m), with a 6 m arch rise above the water. The arch measures 0.70 m at the crown and 1.60 m at the springing. Natural rock outcrops, partly faced with stone, serve as abutments; the bridge is built of cut stone and has neither eaves nor guardrails.
The bridge is thought to be about 900 years old, dating it to roughly the 12th century. It is the largest of the old arched bridges preserved in Adjara, with a 24 m span. In 2006 a presidential decree added it to Georgia's register of immovable cultural monuments of national importance.
The bridge reflects medieval building practices in the Adjara region, showing how local craftspeople worked with local volcanic materials to solve engineering problems. Its construction method reveals practical knowledge that communities valued and preserved over time.
The bridge lies close to the main Batumi-Khulo road and remains passable throughout the year in normal conditions. The narrow crossing requires careful footing, so take your time when walking across, especially after rain.
The bridge has no putlog holes, unlike many medieval Georgian bridges, so scaffolding could not be anchored in the masonry. Builders likely drove temporary timber piles into the Adjaristskali riverbed to support the centring for the 20–25 m arch. The dressed stone was set with lime mortar, and the span has survived numerous earthquakes.
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