Jeyrakh-Assin Reserve
Jeyrakh-Assin Reserve

The Jeyrakh-Assin historical, architectural and natural museum-reserve is located within the boundaries of the Jeyrakh district of the Republic of Ingushetia on the northern slopes of the foothills of the Central part of the Greater Caucasus Range. The reserve was established on June 2, 1988. The area of the reserve is slightly more than 627 square kilometers. The activity of the reserve is aimed at ensuring the preservation, restoration and study of territorial complexes of cultural and natural heritage, material and spiritual values in their traditional historical (cultural and natural) environment. On the territory of the museum-reserve there are 122 ancient architectural complexes, including more than 2,670 objects of cultural significance, including defensive and residential towers, burial crypts, Christian and pagan sanctuaries and temples. The oldest buildings of the megalithic type belong to the middle of the second millennium BC. Every year, significant scientific discoveries are made on the territory of the reserve, new objects are identified, archaeological expeditions are constantly working, scientists from all over the world come. Since 1996, the reserve has been a candidate for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Significant value in the reserve is given to work on creating conditions for the development of organized tourism, its educational and service component.

On March 19, within the framework of the work plan on visual inspection of the technical condition of cultural heritage objects, acting director of the Dzhirakh-Assinsky Museum-Reserve A. A. Sampiev made an inspection trip to the Lyazhgi tower complex. The state of the monuments was examined, visual changes in the design were photographed.

Lyazhgi is a large castle-type tower village northwest of Olgeti and Khyamishka, east of Mellare Castle on the site between Olgeti and Eban, southeast of the district center of Jairakh, on the banks of the Armkhi River. According to folk etymology, the name Lyazhgi originated from the word "lying" - the so-called leather bag intended for storing grain. This name was given to the village because its land gave good harvests - a small piece of land collected a whole "lie" of grain.

The complex has preserved monuments of the late medieval era. At one time, five powerful castle complexes towered here, each of which had a battle tower. To date, three ensembles have been preserved in the village: Khutievs, Kharsievs and Kurskievs. The Kharsiev Tower is the first restored battle tower in modern Ingushetia. The battle tower of the Khutievs, located in the upper part of the village, has been preserved in its original form, it is the tallest and slender of all the towers, with a slate step-pyramidal coating. Its feature is also the presence of a four-sided stone false vault not only on the 2nd and 6th floors, but additionally on the 3rd. This strengthened the structure of the tower and increased its defense capability.

Speaking of the other towers, they were 5-storey, with a flat roof and a parapet. Now it is not so often you can see a tower with a surviving spire.

On the south side of the village was adjacent to a high stone barrier wall of the late Middle Ages. It had wide locking gates. Near them, day and night, local guards were on duty, controlling a section of the most important trade, transport and military highway that ran here. Currently, only a few parts of the wall remain.

The complex also has residential towers and crypts of varying degrees of preservation. The water mill, located on the territory of the Lyazhginsky waterfall, was the last identified by the OKN of the complex.

Based on the results of the trip, acts of technical status will be drawn up at the OKS and sent to higher organizations.

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