Jeirach-Assin Reserve

Acting Director of the Jeirakh-Assinsky Museum-Reserve Sampiev A.A. made an inspection trip to the tower complex "Khyani".

The tower complex of Hyani (Khani, Hani, Heni-ing.) is located on a mountain slope in the center of the Salga gorge, near the Chulkha river. The buildings belong to the XVI century. It includes three combat, three semi-combat and 11 residential towers connected by long stone walls.

Hyani battle towers, six-storey, reaching a height of up to 30 meters, with a stepped-pyramidal coating, are vivid examples of the period of development and the highest heyday of construction in Ingushetia and neighboring regions, they stand out significantly against the background of similar structures, primarily the novelty of forms, external beauty and elegance of structural details.

Residential towers, in terms of rectangular or rarely trapezoidal, had two or more floors of a flat roof, with a high parapet.

A recognized and famous master-builder of the Middle Ages was Hing Haniyev from Khyan, there were also famous craftsmen for the manufacture of bows, arrows, crossbows, slings (for example, Alpi Haniyev).

In 2011-2012 , the Khiani complex was restored as far as possible, a gravel road was laid to it, and now it is one of the attractions of mountain Ingushetia.

On November 25, 2024, acting director of the Jeirakh-Assinsky Museum-Reserve Sampiev A.A., together with the representative of the Committee for the State Protection of Cultural Heritage Sites of the Republic of Ingushetia M.G. Aspiev, General Director of ASM Group Mikhailov A.G., under the work plan to supervise restoration, conservation and emergency work on the preservation of historical and architectural objects on the territory of the museum-reserve, made an inspection trip to the tower complexes "Eban", "Keli", "Keli", "Keli", "Mukhorgi".

Work on the preservation of objects of cultural heritage is carried out under the condition of technical, author's supervision and state control in the field of protection of OKS over their conduct, as well as these works are carried out on the basis of a task and permission to carry out these works issued by the OKS protection body - the State Protection Committee of the OKS of the Republic of Ingushetia.

Changes to this task are possible only in coordination with the State Protection Committee of OKN RI.

During the inspection, on the tower complexes "Pui", "Keli" was identified a number of comments on the ongoing work, the elimination of which will be prepared and sent instructions in accordance with the current legislation to higher authorities.

Beney Tower at the foot of Mat Loam. It includes semi-ruined or heavily damaged late medieval one semi-combat and 8 residential towers with various annexes and stone defensive walls. Each tower was part of a separate complex of buildings. Residential towers with extensions and walls were grouped into family quarters.

On the walls and doorways at two residential towers you can see linear petroglyphs and tamgas (crosses, tricvesters, figures of people, etc.).

On the northern outskirts of the village of Beini, in the steep slopes of Mount Mat Loam, there are 4 inaccessible rock shelters of the late Middle Ages, extensive caves with facade southern stone walls. They are neatly stacked on a lime binder solution and covered with light yellow plaster. In the walls there are small vaulted door and window openings. In these shelters, during the threat of an enemy attack, the incapacitated population of the village of Beini was sheltered.

On the southern outskirts of the village of Beini, on a mountain slope, in pre-war times, the late medieval temple-sanctuary of Beini Seli towered with a rectangular base and a gable-step roof.

In the late Middle Ages, the Beini Towers were designed to protect surrounding villages from enemy attacks, as well as the residence of famous families in this area. Traditionally, all towers are surrounded by stone fences. The battle tower is located at the very top of the complex and is designed to protect it. According to sources, the Beini tower complex was completely abandoned by residents during the eviction of the Ingush people in 1944.

Currently, the towers are in a half-destroyed state. The complex of Bainey towers is surrounded by alpine meadows covered with silk, emerald grass, in the thick of which the purest springs are hidden, and in spring vast fields bloom with stunningly beautiful bouquets.

The history of Bainey, founded around the XVI century, is inextricably linked with the bloody wars of those times. And although the main occupation of the inhabitants of these places was cattle breeding, nevertheless, circumstances forced them to constantly hone their defensive skills. This even preserved a legend, which from word of mouth retells the local residents. According to popular legend, once on the site of the village of Beini was the village of Ioarch1ache - weeds and lived here G1am-nakyan - a tribe of witches. G1am-nakyan was characterized by cruelty and insidiousness.

And there was no rest from them to anyone. Their main occupation was robbery and robbery. For raids and warfare in the mountains, this family had 63 warrior horsemen. G1am-Najkian cattle were taken from neighboring tribes.

The mountaineers have long endured the excesses of the people of the witch tribe. But the day came when the neighbors were tired of their insidiousness, and they decided to cunningly eradicate a strong line of robbers. The brothers Dzarakh, Marzbik, Shovkhal from the village of Falkhan, hiding their true intentions, invited men of their kind to a feast and poisoned them.

Only two men of their family survived - they were away at the time. The G1am Naqian tribe was broken and the remaining women were broken, and the children left.

Thus, the village of Joarch1ache disappeared and over time, aul Beini appeared on this place. Old-timers say that the village got its new name from the killed G1am-nakyan, i.e. from the dead - "Beinarash" - Beini, and nearby another village began to be called Kashat1e (Kasheti) - the place of their burial.

Impressive views of mountain Ingushetia!

A unique phenomenon of Ingush material culture are residential towers, which, according to some researchers, arose from cyclopean buildings. Residential towers of the Ingush were called g1ala, and they were the most common buildings in mountainous Ingushetia. They were used as housing in modern times, up to the eviction of people. In appearance, they are different from battle towers. The construction of residential towers dates back to the XII century. The stone of the residential towers is made on lime. The secret of the solution with which the masonry was made has not yet been disclosed. Usually these buildings consist of two or three floors, they were from 10 to 12 meters high.

The first illustrations of the Ingush and their tower buildings appeared in the XIX century. The first collections of photographs of Ingush belong to D. A. Nikitin, N. K. Zeidlitz, Caucasian Y. Y. Karpov. They all traveled to the Caucasus at different times. Y.Y. Karpov visited Ingushetia, in the mountain villages of Dzhirakh, Erzi, Lyazhgi, Olgetti, Beini, Pui, Mushichi and climbed Table Mountain to capture the sanctuary of Myatseli. About the activities of these researchers in his work writes M. Albogachieva.

The presented collection includes photographs of military and residential towers, views of mountainous terrain, landscapes, in the amount of 82 photos taken in the mountainous part of Ingushetia, 72 photos shot in Chechnya, and 14 photos in Georgia. For us, photographs of architectural structures of mountain Ingushetia, taken in Dzherakh, Lezhgi, Erzi, Olgetti, Beini, Puy, Mushichi, where Y. Karpov managed to capture all types of ancient architectural structures of mountain Ingushetia, are of great interest.

In his dissertation work, S.D. Sulimenko gave a typology of tower structures, that is, showed their classification. He writes that residential-family towers are the most archaic type of tower structures. Until the XVIII century and even later, residential towers represented an architectural expression of the mythological syncretism of life, all kinds of activities were carried out (or could be carried out) in residential towers: residential, economic, defense, sacred.

Recently, interest in tower complexes, to the secrets of their construction has increased, which allows people interested to turn to various sources that allow them to consider the architectural details of Ingush architecture.

Tower buildings made of stone were reliable protection from enemies, were more durable than wooden buildings. The Ingush said, “He who lives in a tower is warm, and it is cold for him who does not have his own family tower.”

In the center of the residential tower there was always a four-sided pillar. Constructed of very large stones, rectangular in plan, slightly tapering up for stability, residential towers could also be used as fortresses.

Over time, the higher the residential tower was built, the already it became, which was due to the need to give the tower greater stability. If necessary, and residential towers, played the role of combat, they were adapted for defense. In many residential towers there are loopholes designed for the introduction of combat.

On the first floor of the residential towers, which served mainly as a barn, there were no windows, on the second floor there were tenants.

In numerous niches located in the thickness of the wall, household utensils were stored. Part of the housing occupied the bunks in the form of a wide platform. On the pegs, driven between the stones, hung weapons - bows, guns, sabers.

The collection of Yuri Karpov depicts residential towers, which have three floors and, as a rule, a rectangular base. The dimensions of the towers at the base are 6-15 × 4-9 m. The height of the buildings ranges from 8 to 12 m, the roof is flat, earthen. Entrance to the building through the door of the lower floor. Communication with subsequent floors is carried out with the help of a ladder through a hole in one of the corners of the interior. In the middle of all the buildings there was a stone pillar, which was a support for inter-storey log floors. The purpose of the defense of the tower served special battle crevices of the walls of the second and third floors, and sometimes stones laid in rows on the roof. Each floor had a clearly defined function. The first served as a barn, there were stored stocks of grain, livestock feed, tools and means of transportation. The second floor was residential, the third was intended for guests. In the center of the dwelling there was a hearth sacred to each mountaineer, above it a boiler for cooking was hung on a focal chain.”

In winter, the towers were heated with round fireplaces. Even in the summer they did not warm up, they remained cool.

On the outside of the residential tower at the ground floor level, there were two protruding stones on the wall, for which horses were tied. It was a horsetail.

Residential towers of different preservation are located in all villages of mountain Ingushetia. More preserved residential towers are located in the following mountain villages: Erzi, Egikal, Beini, Tsori, Harpe, Furtog, Lyazhgi, Salgi, Lyalakh, etc.

In many dilapidated residential towers, four-sided pillars with stone pillows that stood in the middle of the tower, designed to support the beams of the floors, were preserved. For example, well-preserved support pillars can be observed in residential towers – Harpe, Zori, etc.

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The Vovnushki Tower Complex is the most famous in Ingushetia and Russia.

Translated from Ingush Vonushki means “place of battle towers”. They vividly illustrate the concept of “firm”: huge stone structures, firmly standing on a rocky base. The approaches to the towers and residential extensions were blocked by powerful fortress walls, which were initially perceived as a natural part of the mountain.

Vonushki is a recognized masterpiece of medieval tower architecture, and a subject of special pride of the Ingush. Now it is difficult to imagine how much effort the builders of Vonushki had to make to create a four-storey complex in such a difficult place for construction, which was also chosen not by chance - this is the junction point of mountain gorges. In ancient times, one of the sections of the legendary Silk Road passed here.

Tower settlement Egikal of mountain Ingushetia.

One of the largest, most visited, as well as one of the most recognizable and popular tower complexes of mountain Ingushetia.

Located on the southern slope of Mount C1ei Loam, 2 km from the Assa River.

Egikal has more than a hundred different types of buildings: combat, semi-combat, residential towers, sanctuaries, sielings, mausoleums, crypts - round, tower-like, ground and underground.

The history of the complex goes deep into the centuries.

It is under state protection.

Tower complex "Furtoug", mountain Ingushetia (the tower where the great Russian chemist D. I. Mendeleev stayed).

At the end of the twentieth century in the mountains of Ingushetia visited a geological expedition led by D. I. Mendeleev - the great Russian chemist, author of fundamental research in chemistry, physics, chemical technology of oil and explosives.

The scientist was amazed by the beauty of the Caucasus and noted that the North Caucasus is not inferior to the mountainous Altai and Urals in terms of the richness of natural resources.

International Mountain Day is celebrated annually on January 11. The holiday was established by a UN General Assembly resolution in 2003.

The purpose of this day is not to congratulate all those involved, but to preserve the natural wealth of the world, support the indigenous people of mountainous areas, raise awareness of the problems and importance of mountain ranges.

According to the United Nations, about 15 percent of humanity lives in the mountains. About 50% of all biodiversity is there. About half of humanity depends on the various resources that mountains provide. The more dangerous are climate change, land degradation and any other negative changes in these areas.

The mountains of Ingushetia are pristine and special beauty. No matter where we are, there are amazing mountains. The mountain peaks are associated with the most beautiful Ingush traditions, and on their slopes there are ancient towers and religious monuments.

The highest mountain peak in Ingushetia is Mount Shoan. Its name comes from the Ingush word "sha" - glacier, as well as Tsei Loam and Tsoreilam.

A special place and reverence in the republic is occupied by legends, Table Mountain, about 3000 m above sea level, which, in addition to the famous monuments located on the top, contains a lot of secrets and mysteries on its slopes.

Tower architecture of Ingushetia in the works of researchers and scientists.

In the middle of the XVIII century, the Georgian historian Vakhushti Bagrationi, visiting hard-to-reach mountainous areas, noted that the Ingush “know how to build from stone on lime and build houses, towers and fortifications from them.”

In the XVIII-early-XIX centuries. there are works of a research nature. Ethnographic studies that appeared during this period are closely related to the study of stone architecture monuments of the Ingush and other peoples of the Caucasus.

In scientific expeditions in the North Caucasus, such scientists as P.S. Pallas, G.Y. Klaprot, I.L. Guldenstedt, F. Parrot, M. Engelgart took an active part, who later turned to the problem under study.

At the beginning of the XX century the Soviet stage of studying monuments of mountain Ingushetia began and this period was represented by the works of A.F. Goldstein, L.P. Semenov, I.P. Shcheblykin, E.I. Krupnov, V.P. Kobychev, A.I. Robakidze, M.M. Basorkin, etc.

In 1925-1932 , archaeological and ethnographic expeditions in the mountains of Ingushetia were conducted by scientist L.P. Semenov. In his reports he wrote: "In the Ingush monuments reflected the change of three religions, successively replacing one another: pagan (the oldest), Christian (which began to penetrate the XII century), Muslim (which penetrated in the XVII century).

A significant role in the study of monuments of archaeology of mountain Ingushetia was played by E. I. Krupnov under the leadership of whom the archaeological expeditions of the State Historical Museum (GIM) were carried out in Ingushetia. His first scientific works on ancient and medieval Ingushetia were published in GIM.

A general description of military and residential towers, castle structures, temples, crypts and sanctuaries is given by the artist-ethnographer I.P. Shcheblykin, who participated in expeditions to mountain Ingushetia together with L.P. Semenov.

At the present stage of study, in parallel with the studies of M. Muzhukhoev, D.Y. Chakhkiev, the works of scientists appeared - R. Munchayev, V.I. Markovin, V.B. Vinogradov, V.H. Tmenov, I.M. Miziev and many others.

Among these studies, it is worth noting the monograph by V.I. Markovin, which describes the traditional architecture of Ingushetia and other regions of the North Caucasus.

Cyclopean structures of mountain Ingushetia, dating of a number of settlements in the mountains, rooted in the III thousand BC, and much more have important scientific significance.

The study of the monuments of mountain Ingushetia gives us a certain idea of the economic and social differentiation of society. These monuments testify to ties with other peoples of the Caucasus.

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This year, together with the partners of the National Objects and Security Management System “Territory”, joint research was carried out on cave-type rock structures located on the southern slope of the Stolovaya Mountain.

As a result of the works, 9 rock structures were located, their measurements were taken, all structural features of the premises were noted, and they were photographed.

All of them will be put on the state record.

The Stolovaya Mountain, as we noted earlier, holds many mysteries.