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.

In continuation of the planned work on the identification and accounting of previously unrecorded objects of cultural heritage, field work was carried out in Upper Ozdika to include collective tombs of the Middle Ages in the list of identified objects of cultural heritage of the Republic of Ingushetia. Within the village, not far from the tower complex, previously unrecorded crypt burials in the amount of 7 pieces were recorded.

As you know, the crypt is an above-ground or underground room intended for the burial of the dead, was called to life in the mountainous area due to the acute lack of land. They are made of unhewn stones, on lime, have a yellow lining and manholes in each tier, through which they dragged the dead. Depending on the number of tiers, the manholes are located on all sides of the crypt, serving as an entrance to each tier, also small through holes are often found in the walls, providing ventilation, thanks to which natural mummification of the remains occurred. Also, when plague or other contagious disease raged in the mountains, infected people went to die in such crypts to avoid infecting others. Taking with them a small amount of food, they were isolated in this crypt, where they either died or recovered to their former life.

Crypts for the Ingush served as the same tower, only in another world, so they were built thoroughly and very carefully. “Man needs a tower in life, and after death – a crypt” – said our ancestors.

Some of the objects considered were collapsed, and some of them retained a large construction volume and some structural details.

The described objects will be included in the list of identified objects of cultural heritage of the republic.

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