The problem of distribution of Sioni type pottery in the South Caucasus in the context of archaeological excavations in the Tumbultepe settlement

Many Caucasian scholars give a general name to the Late Chalcolithic culture of the South Caucasus: it is sometimes referred to as the Sioni culture, sometimes as the Sioni-Tsopi culture, sometimes as the Sioni ceramics, and sometimes as the Sioni-Tsopi-Ginchi culture. However, Sioni type pottery is very rare in the settlements of Nakhchivan. The study of material and cultural samples, especially the pottery from the newly excavated settlement of Tumbultepe and other sites of Nakhchivan, is vitally important for clarifying issues related to the Late Chalcolithic cultures of the South Caucasus, including the Sioni culture. Even if it is possible to refer to a group of Late Chalcolithic sites in the South Caucasus as to the Sioni-Tsopi-Ginchi culture, the authors believe it is not correct to attribute this to all the sites of the South Caucasus.