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.

The employees of the museum-reserve monitored the cult monument “Sampai-Chug”, which is located 200 meters southwest of the Tsurovs combat tower of the Upper Jeyrakh tower complex.

The structure is rectangular (2.90 x 2.50 meters). The structure originally had a gable-stepped (slate) roof. In the center of its front northern wall there was a vaulted doorway. The sanctuary chamber had a false vaulted construction. Arches were absent at all. In walls of a chamber small rectangular niches were observed. The cult building is erected not very neatly, on a lime mortar. The masonry of the walls is polygonal, approaching to ordinal. Archaeological clearing of the temple-sanctuary was carried out by M.B.Muzhekhoev in 1981. As a result, numerous bones and horns of sacrificial animals, arrowheads were found here. The cult building was dedicated to the patron saint of the hearth (Chakhkiev D.Y. Antiquities of mountainous Ingushetia).

The employees of the museum-reserve measured the object and made photo-fixation.

Today the temple-sanctuary is in unsatisfactory condition. The roof is not preserved. The maximum height of the preserved walls is 1.20 meters. The area at the base is 7.25 square meters. The thickness of walls from 55 to 60 cm (field material).

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