Daghestan is ancient. Ancient cities of Dagestan

The Republic of Dagestan is one of the subjects of the Russian Federation. Located in the eastern part of the North Caucasus, it covers an area of 50.3 thousand square kilometers. From the south Dagestan is separated by high mountain ranges from Azerbaijan and Georgia. In the east it is washed by the Caspian Sea. In the northern part of the Republic there are vast expanses of sandy steppes.

Ancient Dagestan (see photo below) is a mountainous country, the beauty of which is sung by many artists, writers and poets.

Its unique way of life, unforgettable landscapes, as well as ceramic, jewelry and other products created by craftsmen are surprising and admirable for all who first get acquainted with the Republic.

Dagestan is rich in its history. So far, over eight thousand cultural and historical monuments protected by the state are on its territory. And all who have ever visited this very southern republic of Russia, have received an unforgettable impression of its beauty and richness of ancient traditions.

Quaternary period

The history of Dagestan begins from ancient times. The first human stands on its territory were located in the Stone Age, during the Paleolithic period. This can be explained by the favorable geographical conditions that this region has distinguished. Thus, during the Quaternary, significant areas of Asia and Europe were glaciated. In the Caucasus, there were only two of them. And there was not a continuous ice cover here. This was facilitated by warm and dry winds that penetrated from Central Asia. In Dagestan, the glaciations were found only on the side ridges and in the highland areas.

A favorable factor for human life in these territories was the fact that a considerable part of them was covered by forest tracts. Spaces, free from trees, served as magnificent pastures for fat herds of wild animals.

Lower Paleolithic

Due to its favorable location, the Caucasus played a significant role during the most ancient settlement of man. Even in the Acheulian era, more than one hundred thousand years ago, the territories of Dagestan were inhabited.

Traces of primitive man were discovered by archaeologists at the border of two districts - Kaitag and Derbent. Here, in the tract Chumus-Inits, massive flakes have been found, as well as primitive tools made of them (scrapers, chopping tools, etc.).

People who settled ancient Dagestan were engaged in hunting and gathering. As a prey they were served by the most common species of animals, as well as fruits and berries that grew in the wild.

The most important tools in the period were the hand-made stone chisels. They were used for making wooden hunting rifles, as well as for cutting carcasses of mined animals and processing the skins removed from them.

The Acheulean people, who lived in small groups, knew how to use fire. He served for them as a source of heat, a means for cooking food and an instrument for scaring out predatory animals.

Middle Paleolithic

After the Acheulian era Mousterian came. In its period (100-30 thousand years ago) the process of settling the primitive man continued. Also continued to develop and the territory of Dagestan. This is confirmed by monuments of a distant era, which are the remains of open camps. They were found in the vicinity of Makhachkala, in the mountains, in the plains, and also near the mountain lake Kezenoy-am, located on the border with Checheno-Ingushetia. Cave parking of the Mousterian period is very rare in Dagestan.

During this period, significant changes occurred in the stone processing technique. Cannons made of it were made using knife-like elongated plates. Also in this era, it became widely practiced hunting with the help of pens. This method allowed to get more food.

All the above-mentioned progressive changes that affected the productive activity of primitive people have affected the social order. It is believed that at this time began to arise the rudiments of the matriarchal-clan organization.

Upper Paleolithic

The next epoch is limited to a period of 30 to 15 thousand years ago. It is characterized by the further development of the primitive communal system.

Ancient monuments of Dagestan belonging to this era, found in a parking lot near the village of Choh in Gunibsky district. In its cultural layers are found remnants of fires, lumps of ocher, animal bones and much more. But most of all in the parking lot they found silicon handicrafts. This material was used not only for the guns themselves, but also for their manufacture.

Based on the data obtained, the scientists concluded that the primitive people inhabiting Dagestan in the era of the Upper Paleolithic hunted mammoths. And for the extraction of these animals, progressive methods of penning at that time were used. Also in this era, primitive people began to make utensils for everyday life.

In this period, the matriarchal-tribal system was finally formed, and the ties between the individual communities were strengthened.

After the end of the Upper Paleolithic era, there was a general warming of the climate. The Mesolithic period began. According to archaeologists, mountainous Dagestan was at that time densely populated. Among the features of his culture there is an analogy with the simultaneous monuments of the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia, which confirms the similarity of the ways of development of people inhabiting these regions.

Bronze Age

After the Upper Paleolithic, the ancient history of Dagestan entered a new era, covering the period from the end of the fourth to the end of the second millennium BC. The copper-bronze age came . He brought many achievements in culture and production, as well as in the social structure of the primitive communal system.

In this period of its heyday reached the metallurgy of copper and bronze. From these materials, people began to make various products that played a big role in their lives. The centers of metallurgical production also had Dagestan. The ancient land was rich in ore reserves.

In the Bronze and Copper Age, arable farming arose and developed. In addition, people began to engage in cattle breeding. At the same time, the number of species of domestic animals increased all the time.

The emergence of cattle breeding and farming is the most important event of the bronze-copper century that Dagestan experienced. The ancient land became the center of active demographic processes and rapid economic development. In its territory, a rapidly growing population began to develop new lands.

During this period, further development of the material culture. There were ancient villages of Dagestan, in which some elements of construction equipment and architecture were used for building dwellings. Some of these settlements were temporary or seasonal.

At the beginning of the Bronze-Copper Age, Dagestan made a major contribution to the agricultural culture. The ancient region in this period achieved great success, having received many varieties of hard and soft wheat, almost fifty varieties of barley, as well as many varieties of grapes, apricots, pome fruits and other crops.

Development of public relations

In the Bronze Age, the role of exchange between tribes has greatly increased. This was a consequence of the division of labor and led to the strengthening of ties between the inhabitants of various regions of Dagestan.

But at the same time, the growth of productive forces exacerbated property differentiation and intensified the inter-tribal struggle for pasture and arable land, as well as metal deposits.

Also, the ancient history of Dagestan in the Bronze Age was the period when ethno-cultural communities began to take shape. Later they served as the basis for the formation of many nationalities and tribes.

In connection with the development of cattle breeding, metallurgy and tilled farming, where male labor was used, the matriarchal-clan relations were replaced by patriarchal ones. They were more in line with the new conditions of social production. At this time, the accumulation of wealth in the hands of individual families began to occur. This led to property division within the clan.

At the end of the Bronze Age, the beginning of the production of iron began. In the future, this led to revolutionary changes in culture, economics, as well as in the minds of people. As a result, a so-called military democracy was formed, after which statehood appeared.

Caucasian Albania

The next stage in the history of Dagestan came in the middle of the first millennium BC. During this period, the consolidation of the tribes living there began in the eastern territories of Transcaucasia, which resulted in the creation of their alliance first, and then of the early-conquering state-the Caucasian Albania. These were vast lands lying between the Kura, the Caspian Sea and Alazani, which included significant areas of present-day Dagestan.

Due to its weather conditions, the Caucasian Albania was a great place for people to live. Her lands were well watered and fertile.

Albanian tribes

Most of the territory of the newly emerged state was occupied by mountains. They were warlike tribes. They kept under their constant control the passes located on the Main Caucasian ridge.

The most numerous tribes inhabiting Albania were Utii and Albanians occupying territories on the coast of the Caspian Sea. Of great importance in the state were also legions and gels, Didrus and Gararga, sylvs and andaks, and others.
Far before these tribes were known caspia and mickey. Thus, Albania had an ethnic diversity. Twenty-six different tribes lived on its territory. Such a picture is very close to the ethnography that exists in modern Dagestan.

The tribes of the Albanians lived in the mountainous region of the country, as well as on the part of the coast of the Caspian Sea. It is believed that this is the oldest nation in Dagestan - the ancestors of the modern mountain people of the Republic.

Economic development of Albania

The main economic branch of the ancient state was agriculture. And it has developed not only in the plains, but also in the mountains. For the cultivation of soil, Albanians used a wooden plow, which in its construction was close to the modern Dagestan "purusa".

Another important branch for Alban was cattle breeding. This was promoted by extensive mountain pastures and flood meadows in the foothills. Also in the territory of Albania, a significant development was given to craftsmanship. There were new industries producing glass and fish glue, dealing with the processing of semiprecious stones, and many others.

At the same time in the history of Albania, metalworking reached its peak. Artisans began to use sophisticated tools that made it possible to make knives and spearheads, three-first arrows, sharp cavalry swords and a variety of tools. Due to this the area of application of metal has considerably expanded. A special specialization was observed in jewelry business.

Ancient cities

Numerous trade and craft centers began to appear on the territory of the Albanian state. Many ancient cities of Dagestan (29 of them are all mentioned) were discovered during archaeological excavations in the territory of the modern Republic. And the main place where the ruins of ancient settlements are located is the piedmont seaside Dagestan.

The main city of Albania was Kabalak. He was in the territory of modern Northern Azerbaijan. The ancient cities of Dagestan are Gelda, Alban and Telen. They were located between the rivers Sudak and Samur. This is the territory of the modern Republic of Dagestan. Ancient city, located in the interior regions of Albania, - Niga. On the same lands stood Bakri, Daghla and Tagode.

The most ancient city of Dagestan, which was revealed as a result of archaeological research, is Urtzeki. During the existence of the Albanian state, he had a layout corresponding to the ancient style. It should be said that such a location has a number of settlements of this period, located on the territory of the Republic of Dagestan. The ancient city of Urtzeki, like other administrative centers similar to it, had such traditional antique elements as the citadel, the posad located nearby the district.

The End of the Ancient Period

At the end of the fourth century AD, numerous warlike hordes of nomads of the Huns invaded Dagestan. The ancient land was captured from the north to the Derbent Pass itself.

The Huns began to actively intervene in the political affairs of the peoples of Transcaucasia and to a considerable extent slowed down the social and economic development of Dagestan. However, they could not influence the culture of the peoples of this region. This is explained by the fact that the nomads were at a lower stage of their development.

Some studies of archaeologists show that the Huns were on the territory of Dagestan. So, burials of nomads were found, in which along with soldiers were buried bows with bone linings, as well as iron knives.
The state of the Huns collapsed only in the middle of the fifth century. Many disagreements contributed to its disintegration. After that the tribal unions of Dagestan became independent units with their political management.