In recent years, archaeologists have begun to find evidence of an ancient civilization that existed in Ingushetia long before written history. Cyclopic buildings are structures of huge uncooked stone blocks of solutionless masonry of a horizontal plan, ancient stone dwellings. Cyclopean structures are considered a masterpiece of ancient civilization – no one knows exactly who built them and why.
The beginning of the scientific study of megalithic monuments on the territory of mountain Ingushetia falls on 20-30 years. XX century. It was at this time that they were studied by such famous Russian Caucasian scientists as L.P. Semenov and E.I. Krupnov.
Currently, on the state record as the identified objects of cultural heritage consist in the architectural complex Targim in the amount of 14 buildings, although in the territory of mountain Ingushetia such buildings were previously found at the villages of Egikal, Hamkhi, Khart, Doshkhakle, Tori, Ozik, Keli, Kazi, etc. These days, the staff of the museum-reserve began a huge work to register all cyclopean buildings in mountain Ingushetia as objects of cultural heritage.
It should be noted that among scientists, the question of dating cyclopean structures for many years remains controversial. The problem of dating megalithic structures today, as before, is relevant.
L.P. Semyonov and E.I. Krupnov, after studying the remains of megalithic buildings in the Ingush villages of Hamkhi, Egikal, Doshkhakle, it was concluded that these cyclopean fortress houses belong to the era of the Scythians, i.e. VII-V centuries BC. "when there were strong patrimonial foundations and all buildings were erected by the efforts of numerous members of the clan." The idea of the antiquity of cyclopean monuments according to folklore information is also expressed by the Caucasian scientist B.K. Dalgat.
However, recently such scientists as: S. T. Umarov, V. B., Vinogradov, V. I., Markovin, who studied these megalithic structures in mountain Ingushetia, call another time of their origin XI-XIII centuries AD.
The most optimal and acceptable option is the dating put forward by the archaeologist M.B. Musukhoev. In the late 70s and early 80s, he excavated cyclopean buildings near the medieval tower settlements of Kart and Doshkhakle. Having made an analysis on the basis of the collected material, he gives his dating of II – I thousand BC. At the same time, the scientist also expresses an opinion about the diversity of cyclopean buildings. Archaeologist V.I. Kozenkova also considers it possible to attribute the type of stone dwellings in question to 1 thousand BC.
With the origin of these huge buildings associated with many legends and legends. It was believed that megaliths are the work of giants who, playfully, could throw stones from the palm of your hand to the palm of your hand. The ancient Greeks believed that these huge structures were built by one-eyed mythical giants – cyclops. Hence the name.
In the legends of the Ingush are also mentioned giants - wampalas, and among them there were one-eyed giants. However, legends or legends cannot give a general objective explanation of how and by whom, were built, and most importantly, to what period the construction of these buildings belongs. The lack of written evidence on this issue makes it difficult to study it.
