Javakhians are one of the earliest Georgian tribes that inhabited southern Georgia from ancient times.

According to Cyril Toumanoff, Javakheti was part of the Iberian duchy of Tsunda from the 4th or 3rd century BC.

Ukhtanes of Sebastia talks about the family tree of Kyrion, the Catholicos of Georgia.

The literal translation of this text is as follows: Kyrion "came from the Georgians in terms of country and lineage, from the region of the Javakhs."

There can be no doubt that Ukhtanes believed Javakheti to be part of Georgia (Iberia), and the Javakhs to be Georgians.