Argun Reserve
Argun Reserve

The Argun State Historical-Architectural and Natural Museum-Reserve is a reserve located in the southern part of the Chechen Republic on the territory of the Vedeno Reserve and covering the Itum-Kali and Sharoy districts in whole, as well as partially Achkhoy-Martan, Vedeno and Shatoy districts. It was established on June 2, 1988 by the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR. The area is 233,800 hectares. We can safely say that the Argun Reserve is an open-air museum. It includes historical and natural monuments of the Argun Gorge. Of the natural monuments on the territory of the Argun Museum-Reserve, the most remarkable is the Sheki-Hyekh cave with sulfur springs, from which a hydrogen sulfide river flows. Of the cultural and historical sites, there are about 150 tower complexes of the early and late Middle Ages, religious buildings, military and residential towers, early Muslim burials, cyclopean structures and other historical monuments. Many objects of the museum-reserve are in ruined condition.

On 14.02.2025, a research expedition organized by the State Budgetary Institution “Argun Museum-Reserve” headed by the head of the institution, Kh. K. Yakhyaev, took place. The route was along the gorge of the Merzha-Khi River to the unique cultural heritage sites of the Chechen people. The expedition revealed several crypts and a ruined dwelling complex.

Special attention was paid to a large crypt, unique in the entire North Caucasian Federal District, which is more than 8 meters long. Inside the crypt there are numerous human remains. According to available data, this structure is not part of any complex, as it is not located within the settlement boundaries, but the historical-architectural complexes of Muzhakh, Muzhgan and Daka-Bukh are nearby, and the closest to it is the historical-architectural complex of Esmerzan-g1ala.

One theory suggests that this crypt was used by locals to bury plague victims, which could explain its isolated location.

The survey team conducted photo and video recording, technical measurements, and GPS location of the sites. The scope of work also included sanitary cleaning of the adjacent territory. In the near future, a work plan will be developed to bring these facilities into proper condition.

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