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.

As part of a plan to identify and record previously unaccounted cultural heritage sites, employees of the museum-reserve found previously unaccounted foundations of five residential towers with preserved wall fragments and one underground burial ground with cyclopean masonry on the territory of the tower complex “Beini” tower complex, the foundations of five residential towers with preserved fragments of walls and one underground burial ground with cyclopean stone masonry, which have the characteristics of cultural heritage sites.

According to preliminary data, one of the identified residential towers is located between two others, forming a closed courtyard. The entrance to this courtyard is on one side, and the exit is on the other. In tower settlements, residential towers were often located in groups by family quarters, together with outbuildings and barrier walls.

The remaining four residential towers are distributed throughout the complex. Some of them have preserved arched stones and openings for beams, and one tower has preserved three entrance openings.

The underground burial ground is located in the center of the settlement. The entrance is open, through which bone remains can be seen. Directly behind this burial ground is a small room that resembles a memorial chamber in appearance. However, archaeological excavations are necessary to determine its exact purpose.

Field research at this site, including identification, description, measurement, and photography, has not yet been completed. Work will continue in the near future.

The Beini tower complex is located at the foot of Mount Ma'at-Loam. Linear petroglyphs and other images can be seen on the walls and doorways of the residential towers.

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