Edvard Rtveladze

Edvard Vasilevich Rtveladze (ედუარდ ბასილის ძე რთველაძე; Edvard Vasilyevich Rtveladze; May 14, 1942 – February 10, 2022) was a Soviet, Georgian, and Uzbek scientist. His credentials included membership in the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Doctor of Historical Sciences, the academician from the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and tenure as a professor.

Biography
He was born on May 14, 1942, in the city of Borjomi, Georgian SSR. Edvard Rtveladze obtained his degree in history and archaeology from National University of Uzbekistan in 1967. From 1967 to 1969, he served as a laboratory assistant and junior research fellow at the Institute of Art Studies within the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan. He taught at the Tashkent Institute of Theatre and Fine Arts from 1970 to 1973. In 1975 he defended his Ph.D. thesis titled "From the History of urban culture in Northern Caucasia and its Connections with Central Asia" in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg ). Between 1973 and 1976, he worked as a junior research fellow at the Institute of Art Studies within the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan. From 1976 to 1985, he held the position of senior research fellow at the Institute of Art Studies within the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan. He subsequently served as the department chairman at the Institute of Art Studies within the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan from 1985 to 2009.

Scientific work
As of the mid-2000s, he had actively participated in over 80 archaeological expeditions, spanning regions including Central Asia, the Caucasus, Cyprus, France, and Japan. Leading the Tocharistan Expedition, Edward Rtveladze directed archaeological excavations at the significant site of Kampir Tepe, an ancient city from the Kushan Empire era. Under his guidance, collaborative commemorative monographs were produced, shedding light on historical cities in Uzbekistan and eminent figures from the past. Notable works include "Amir Timur in World History," "Khiva - City of a Thousand Domes," "Shakhrisabz," "Termez," "Jalal al-Din Mangburni," and others.

In recognition of his contributions, he was honored with the "State Prize of the Uzbek SSR", named after Hamza, in 1985. Edvard Rtveladze achieved the academic title of "Doctor of Historical Sciences" in 1989, followed by the prestigious designation of professor in 1992. In 1995, he earned a place in the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan. In 1999 the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan awarded E. Rtveladze a gold medal and diploma of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan "For Outstanding Contribution to the Study of Culture", and for the book "Velikiy shelkoviy put" E. Rtveladze received a diploma of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic for the best research in the field of the humanities.

In 2016, Edvard with PhD Firdavs Abdukhalikov initiated the "Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in World Collections" project, aiming to document and gather historical artifacts, manuscripts, and monuments from Uzbekistan's ancient history, housed in museum collections across the globe. These valuable resources were made accessible to scholars and the general public, with findings compiled into books and encyclopedia articles, and discussions held at academic conferences and media forums. The inaugural conference in Tashkent and Samarkand on May 15–16, 2017, marked the establishment of the World Scientific Society for the Study, Preservation, and Popularization of Uzbekistan's Cultural Heritage.

In 2019, Edward made an announcement regarding the possible discovery of the lost Greco-Bactrian city of Alexandria Oxiana during archaeological excavations, unveiling significant scientific findings at the ancient site of Kampir Tepe.

In 2021, he paid tribute to his late wife by publishing a bibliography titled "L. L. Rtveladze: Life, Science, Family."

Edvard Rtveladze died in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on February 10, 2022.

Family
Lydia Lvovna (1941-14.04.2020), born Bukinich, was his wife. She was the granddaughter of D.D. Bukinich, an archaeologist and archivist who served as the director of the archives in the State Administration for the Preservation and Use of Cultural Heritage Objects in Uzbekistan for an extended period. Throughout their 50-year marriage, Edward and Lydia had three children: Anna, Grigory, Nelli.

Awards

 * State Prize of the Uzbek SSR named after Hamza: 1985
 * Golden Medal and Diploma from the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan "For Outstanding Contribution to the Study of Culture": 1999
 * Order "Buyuk xizmatlari uchun" (Order of Outstanding Merit): 2001
 * Order "Mehnat shuhrati" (For Labor Glory): 2003
 * State Prize of Uzbekistan in the field of Science and Technology, 2nd Degree: 2007
 * Order "El-yurt hurmati" (Honored for Services to the Homeland): 2017

Foreign

 * Order of Honor: 2001, Georgia