History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Caucasus
In 2005 the Caucasus’ oldest academic institution – the Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Daghestan Federal Research Centre of RAS – established a scientific journal "Herald of the Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Caucasus". It became a place for publications of researches on relevant issues about history and archeology of the region. Over the years, the herald (Vestnik) has acquired its current and unique form and the editorial board has determined its profile and position in selecting of articles to publish. In 2018, the journal changed its name to "History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Caucasus". The editorial board was renewed and expanded. Now, the editor-in-chief is a full member of RAS and corresponding member of DAI, Doctor of History, Professor Khizry Amirkhanovich Amirkhanov. The editorial board, the involvement of foreign reviewers, as well as co-operation with the multicultural team of authors, define journal’s International status. The “History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Caucasus” publishes original theoretical and scientific researches on urgent topics, and articles regarding the personnel (anniversaries of famous scientists; obituaries). Key research guidelines are archeology, ethnography and history of the Caucasus region, as well as researches on historical demography and sociology, numismatics and paleography, oriental and other historical disciplines. Papers at the interface between different disciplines are also welcomed. The chronological coverage is from the ancient times to the present day. The journal considers unauthorized collecting of antiquities as an activity that contravenes the European Charter for the Protection and Management of the Archaeological Heritage, Russian legislation and general academic views on professional ethics. Regarding the above, the journal will only publish works based on results of legal archaeological research or analysis of the material, stored in the State Museum Foundation. The journal is published in both Russian and English with detailed abstracts in both languages. The quality of submitted manuscripts is determined by the double-blind peer-review, and then the Editorial Board decides whether to publish it or not. The journal reserves the right to reject articles, which are out of the journal’s scope, or those violating the journal’s policies and requirements. Authors will be notified about the decision on the compliance with the requirements as soon as possible. The reviewing process may take up to six months. TRANSLATE with x English Arabic Hebrew Polish Bulgarian Hindi Portuguese Catalan Hmong Daw Romanian Chinese Simplified Hungarian Russian Chinese Traditional Indonesian Slovak Czech Italian Slovenian Danish Japanese Spanish Dutch Klingon Swedish English Korean Thai Estonian Latvian Turkish Finnish Lithuanian Ukrainian French Malay Urdu German Maltese Vietnamese Greek Norwegian Welsh Haitian Creole Persian TRANSLATE with COPY THE URL BELOW <!--a id="TwitterLink" title="Share on Twitter"> <a-- id="FacebookLink" title="Share on Facebook"> </a--> Back EMBED THE SNIPPET BELOW IN YOUR SITE Enable collaborative features and customize widget: Bing Webmaster Portal Back
All the Copyright statements for authors are present in the standart Publishing Agreement (Public Offer) to Publish an Article in an Academic Periodical 'History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Caucasus'. Standart Publishing Agreement (Public Offer) to Publish an Article in an Academic Periodical ''History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Caucasus' The Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Dagestan Scientific Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences, hereinafter referred to as the Publisher, on the one hand, hereby offers to the public at large, hereinafter referred to as the Author, on the other hand, hereinafter collectively referred to as the Parties, to enter into this agreement, hereinafter referred to as the Agreement, regarding publication of scholarly materials, hereinafter referred to as the Article, in the Journal named 'History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Caucasus’, hereinafter referred to as the Journal, under the following terms. 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A CONTRIBUTION TO THE CRANIOLOGY OF MODERN AND SUBFOSSIL WOLVES IN ARMENIA
This article presents the first craniometric study of seven wolves sacrificed and buried at an Early Bronze Age sanctuary (28th–26th centuries BCE) in the Mets Sepasar settlement. The study identifies specific craniometric parameters and analyzes morphometric skull variability across a chronological range from the Early Bronze Age to the present day. Comparative analyses were conducted using skull parameters of subfossil dogs and modern wolves from Armenia, sourced from the collections of the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia. The research establishes ranges of individual variation and highlights differences in cranial size and structure between subfossil and modern representatives of the genus Canis. The wolf skulls from the Mets Sepasar archaeological site represent unique Early Bronze Age material, as they constitute a unique dataset that reflect various aspects of ecology and ritual practices of the time. The results demonstrate similarities in the absolute parameters of subfossil and modern wolves; notably, the subfossil wolves from the Mets Sepasar sanctuary exhibit larger dimensions compared to modern wolves from other regions of Armenia. Furthermore, subfossil dogs were found to be clearly distinct from both modern and subfossil wolves across all measured parameters. These findings enrich the craniological data for the genus Canis, providing valuable comparative material for identifying bone remains in future craniological and zoological research. Such data significantly expands our understanding of the cultural and ecological dimensions of human-wildlife interaction in the past. These results serve as a critical tool for identifying skeletal remains in archaeological excavations and contribute to the reconstruction of Ancient Armenian ecosystems.
Copyright (c) 2026 Manaseryan N., Ghasabyan M., Balyan L., Barseghyan N., Bagoyan H., Gyonjyan A.
TITLES OF EASTERN RULERS IN THE ANONYMOUS PERSIAN WORK MUJMAL AL-TAWĀRĪKH WA-L-QIṢAṢ
The anonymous Persian chronicle dated 1126 CE, known to specialists as the Mujmal al-Tawārīkh wa-l-Qiṣaṣ, contains a highly intriguing section that has remained untranslated into European languages to date. In this section, the anonymous author provides detailed data on the titulature of the rulers of Iran and the “Padishahs of the East,” including mentions of rulers governing territories within the Caucasus and adjacent regions. The origin of various titles or laqabs of the pre-Mongol era continues to be a subject of active scholarly debate. Consequently, the records within the Mujmal al-Tawārīkh wa-l-Qiṣaṣ are of significant value to a wide range of specialists, particularly as the anonymous author presents his own explanatory models for the origins of specific titles. The objective of this study is not only to provide a translation of the specified fragment and accompanying commentary but also to identify potential historiographical links between this portion of the anonymous text and earlier Islamic historical and geographical works. Methodologically, the authors of this article rely on the frameworks of modern comparative source studies. Key findings, in addition to the translation of the relevant section of Mujmal al-Tawārīkh wa-l-Qiṣaṣ, include the author’s specific mention of the rulers of the Alans and Lakz, whose title shah is not applied to other monarchs in this context. While a significant number of the mentioned laqabs are clearly of Turkic origin, the titles of the Alan and Lakz rulers represent a notable exception.
Copyright (c) 2026 Timokhin D.M., Tishin V.V. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE ROLE OF THE JUMA MOSQUE IN SHAPING THE SETTLEMENT STRUCTURE OF AVARS IN MOUNTAINOUS DAGESTAN
The settlement structure of Mountainous Dagestan prior to the 14th century was characterized by a prevalence of small, often single-clan (tukhum) settlements. During the 14th and 15th centuries, a process of consolidation took place: several closely situated hamlets would merge to form large, neighbor-based communities. Oral tradition suggests that a primary driver of this process was the religious requirement for the Friday prayer, which necessitates the presence of at least 40 adult men knowledgeable in the fundamentals of Islam. Consequently, the Juma mosque became a center of gravity for the micro-region, around which a neighbor-based community would coalesce. However, in the high-altitude regions of Mountainous Dagestan, these consolidation processes were hindered by a lack of land resources – specifically arable land capable of sustaining large populations. Since available plots were scattered across vast territories, centralized living would have required traveling long distances daily, reducing the efficiency of labor and land use. The solution was found by maintaining the existing dispersed settlement structure while designating one small settlement as the site for the Juma mosque. This location was termed rosu (village) or kort (gathering place), even if it was not the largest or the “mother” settlement from which others had branched out. Thus, the Juma mosque became the defining feature distinguishing a primary village from a lower-order settlement. Just as the presence of a church and graveyard distinguished a selo (village) from a derevnya (hamlet) in medieval Russia, the Avar rosu (village) was distinguished from the kuli (farmstead/outlying settlement) by the presence of a Juma mosque and a cemetery. Ultimately, the mosque remained the definitive factor: while burials were occasionally permitted at remote farmsteads during harsh winters, the establishment of a Juma mosque there was strictly prohibited.
Copyright (c) 2026 Khapizov S.M., Shekhmagomedov M.G.
A MIDDLE BRONZE AGE KURGAN WITH AN EARLY SCYTHIAN COMPLEX IN MOUNTAINOUS ADYGEA
This article introduces the excavation materials of the Middle Bronze Age kurgan “Deguako-89,” located in the mountainous region of Adygea near the village of Dakhovskaya on the Deguako Plain. Beneath the stone mound of the kurgan, a double burial (Burial 2) of two Middle Bronze Age men was discovered. Due to the absence of grave goods, the burial was dated based on a vessel found in the funeral feast (trizna) remains and the structural characteristics of the stone mound, which has dated analogies across the Deguako Plain. Additionally, an intrusive male burial (Burial 1) from the Early Iron Age was identified within the kurgan. This burial is dated by an iron knife to no earlier than the second half of the 8th century BCE. Associated with the kurgan is an attached ritual complex or horse burial containing the skeletal remains of two or three horses. While these horses may have been sacrificed during the interment of Burial 1, it is also possible they represent a separate commemorative offering at a site already sanctified by human remains. Artifacts recovered from this complex include: two sets of horse harnesses and ring-shaped plaques; arrowheads, spearheads, and a whetstone; beads and the fragmented remains of several ceramic vessels. The materials from the ritual complex/horse burial date to the third quarter of the 7th century BCE. These finds share broad analogies with a wide range of Early Scythian period sites, including those in the Western Caucasus. They attest to the material cultural unity between populations of the foothill and mountain zones, while simultaneously revealing nuanced differences in funerary rites. Furthermore, these findings fill a significant chronological lacuna regarding the Maeotian presence within the “mountainous” variant of Maeotian culture during this period.
Copyright (c) 2026 Bakushev M.A., Erlikh V.R., Spasskaya N.N., Lagozha A.P.
THE “CAUCASIAN TRIP” OF ARCHAEOLOGIST K.N. LYUBARSKY IN 1915 (BASED ON ARCHIVAL MATERIALS)
This article serves as a source study, introducing a previously unknown historical document into scholarly circulation: the travel diary of archaeologists S.O. Dolgov and K.N. Lyubarsky during their 1915 expedition to the Caucasus. The diary is currently held in the K.N. Lyubarsky archive within the Department of Written Sources at the State Historical Museum. The relevance of this study lies in providing new insights into the history of Caucasian archaeology and shedding light on the personality of a lesser-known researcher dedicated to the preservation of regional antiquities. The novelty of the work is found in the presentation of these previously unpublished materials. The historiography of K.N. Lyubarsky’s career is minimal; a “romantic laborer” of science who perished during the Russian Civil War, his name remains largely unknown. The primary objective of this paper is to introduce the Russian scientific community to the life and work of this obscure researcher. Through an analysis of the source material, the article details investigations of Western Caucasian dolmens, mountain fortresses, and burial mounds containing stone cists. Significant attention is given to the excavation of fortress ruins on the Khosta River. The diary portrays Lyubarsky as a meticulous field researcher with a profound passion for science and a keen sensitivity to the Caucasian landscape. Although working within the methodological constraints of his era, Lyubarsky recognized their limitations, employing advanced recording techniques and prioritizing the conservation of monuments. This source documents the experience of studying antiquities during wartime – a testament to the efforts of Russian archaeologists to preserve cultural heritage that remains relevant today.
Copyright (c) 2026 Kokorina Y.G., Vagabov M.M.
MICROBIOLOGICAL TRACES OF ANCIENT FOOD IN VESSELS FROM BURIALS
The objective of this study was to introduce new data regarding the trophic structure and taxonomic identification of microorganisms preserved in the bottom sediment of ritual vessels. Samples were collected from various regions across the Caucasus, the steppe zones of Russia, and Armenia. Soil samples from 42 vessels were analyzed. Based on the quantitative assessment of trophic microbial groups, it was determined that 4 samples contained no food remains, 16 samples contained low-calorie food, and 12 samples contained food with high-fat content. In 16 of these samples – half of which belonged to the high-fat group – the taxonomic classification of food-related bacteria was conducted for the first time using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Additionally, yeast strains were identified through ITS1–5.8S–ITS2–28S rRNA gene sequencing. The study identified lactic acid fermentation bacteria, specifically Sporolactobacillus terrae, Sporolactobacillus vineae, Heyndrickxia coagulans, and Heyndrickxia acidiproducens, as well as the yeast Candida sorbosivorans. Pathogenic bacteria, including Bacillus licheniformis and Clostridium botulinum, were also detected. The presence of Clostridium botulinum was verified via luminescence microscopy of cell consortia isolated from the soil. Furthermore, the phylogenetic position of the Sporolactobacillus vineae strain, previously isolated from the sediment of an ancient oinochoe, was refined. Taxonomic diagnostics of microorganisms in the soil of ritual vessels is essential for assessing and monitoring microbial communities within burial complexes. In these contexts, the interment of food products contributed to increased microbial diversity and facilitated the preservation of ancient, biotechnologically significant strains.
Copyright (c) 2026 Kashirskaya N.N., Chernysheva E.V., Khomutova T.E., Evstigneev A.M., Kleshchenko A.A., Malashev V.Y., Mimohod R.A., Zenyuk D.I., Hmayakyan S., Bobokhyan A., Borisov A.V.
P.-P.G. PRZHETSLAVSKY ON THE PEOPLES OF THE NORTHERN CAUCASUS: FORMATION OF VIEWS AND INFORMATIONAL VALUE
This article provides a source-critical analysis of the journalistic and ethnographic legacy of P.-P.G. Przhetslavsky, a career military officer whose works serve as a representative historical source on the period of the Northern Caucasus’s incorporation into the Russian Imperial system. Based on a comprehensive study of his works, including the essay Dagestan: Its Manners and Customs and diary entries from his service as a bailiff to Imam Shamil in Kaluga, the author identifies the dual nature of this legacy. On one hand, the study highlights the significant informative value of Przhetslavsky’s writings. His detailed descriptions of administrative structures, economic activities (terrace farming, animal husbandry, and handicrafts), statistical data, elements of daily life (housing, food, clothing), and customary law laid the foundation for subsequent ethnographic and historical research. These materials preserve unique data regarding the transformation of North Caucasian society following the Caucasian War. On the other hand, the article provides a reasoned argument regarding the author’s strong bias and subjectivity, which is particularly evident in his contentious relationship with Shamil. The use of evaluative clichés (such as “savage peoples”), the intentional disparagement of the Imam, and the contextual distortion of facts (extending even to inaccurate citations of the Quran) demonstrate Przhetslavsky’s rigid, pro-government stance. This perspective was shaped by his official status and his conviction in Russia’s “civilizing mission.” The study concludes that, despite an inevitable ideological bias, Przhetslavsky’s works remain vital historical documents. Their critical analysis allows researchers not only to reconstruct various aspects of life among the peoples of Dagestan but also to understand the mechanisms behind the formation and function of imperial knowledge regarding the Caucasus – a key objective of contemporary Caucasian Studies.
FROM YEKATERINODAR TO JEDDAH: ON THE PILGRIMAGE ROUTES OF THE ADYGHE OF THE KUBAN REGION IN THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY
This article addresses the previously unexamined issue of the pilgrimage routes taken by the Adyghe of the Kuban region to Mecca and Medina. The author aims to characterize the Hajj routes of Kuban’s Adyghe Muslims, including major railway and maritime waypoints, while identifying the local actors involved in organizing the pilgrimage. A pivotal role in organizing the Hajj for Muslims of the Russian Empire was played by the “Temporary Rules on Muslim Pilgrimage” of 1903. By the early 20th century, the authorities of the Kuban region had established a consistent practice for issuing the necessary documentation to prospective pilgrims. A central organizational figure for the Adyghe pilgrims was the philanthropist and entrepreneur L.N. Trakhov. He not only provided consultations regarding the upcoming journey but also assisted with ticket purchases, even funding the pilgrimage for some individuals at his own expense. The processing of documents took place in Yekaterinodar, where pilgrims submitted petitions for departure along with guarantees from their village elders (aul starshina) certifying their solvency and loyalty. The subsequent route proceeded by rail from Yekaterinodar to Novorossiysk. From Novorossiysk, the pilgrims traveled via Russian Steam Navigation and Trading Company (ROPIT) steamers to Sevastopol, and from there to Jeddah or Yanbu via Constantinople. In Sevastopol, the Hajilar Caravan Sarai was established on the coast to accommodate the pilgrims. Constantinople could be reached via the Sevastopol-Constantinople and Anatolian lines. For the transport of pilgrims, ROPIT allocated a specific Persian Gulf line, where conditions on board were adapted to meet the requirements of their ritual practices. In Constantinople, pilgrims registered at the Consulate General of the Russian Empire. The duration between receiving documents in Yekaterinodar and registering in Constantinople could range from seven days to one month.
THE SOUTHERN EXTENT OF THE KURA-ARAXES CULTURE IN IRAN: EVIDENCE FROM GŪNESPĀN TEPE
During the 4th millennium BC, the Kura-Arax culture emerged as an important archaeological phenomenon in the Caucasus and the Near East. Over the course of several centuries, the culture spread from Transcaucasia and northwestern Iran to southeastern Anatolia and Levant. The culture has been referred to in Iran by various names, including Yanik, Kura-Arax, and Godin IV. During archaeological excavations at Tepe Gūnespān, Malayer, in 2009, deposits containing Kura-Arax-type pottery were discovered, providing valuable insights into the final phase of this culture in the central Zagros region. Based on archaeological findings from this site, this article examines the characteristics of the Kura-Arax culture at its southernmost limit, as well as the timing and process of its decline. The results of the excavations indicate that Gūnespān was first inhabited during the Kura-Arax period, and that cultural deposits up to 250 cm thick belong to this phase. Although no architectural remains were identified due to excavation limitations, evidence suggests that this was a permanent settlement. The most distinctive feature of this culture is its gray-black burnished pottery, which can be categorized into seven groups at Gūnespān. Most of these ceramics are plain, with incised decorations being rare. The findings indicate that the gray-black burnished pottery tradition of the Kura-Araxes culture was widespread in the central Zagros region during the first half of the third millennium BCE, demonstrating its southernmost extent of influence. By the mid-third millennium BCE, painted buff ware emerged and gradually replaced the Kura-Araxes gray-black burnished pottery tradition.
Copyright (c) 2026 Naseri R., Khanipour M.
THE ROLE OF ZIYARATS IN THE SUFI PILGRIMAGE PRACTICES OF FEMALE MURIDS IN INGUSHETIA
This article investigates the role of ziyarats (shrines dedicated to saints) within the Sufi pilgrimage practices of female murids in Ingushetia. The study aims to identify the specific characteristics of the religious experiences of these women, analyzing their motivations, ritual practices, and the social significance of their journeys. Central focus is placed on female religious activity associated with the cult of the awliya Kunta-Haji Kishiev, specifically the pilgrimages to shrines linked to his name. The research findings indicate that ziyarats play a vital role in the spiritual lives of female murids. Pilgrimage to these sacred sites is viewed as a means of spiritual purification, the atonement of sins, the attainment of barakat (divine blessing), and the establishment of a personal connection with Allah and the saints. Furthermore, these sites facilitate social interaction, the exchange of experience, and the strengthening of communal ties. Zikr and other ritual practices serve as platforms where women can express their religiosity, discuss life challenges, and receive support from fellow disciples. The analysis reveals that these women are driven by both personal and collective motivations. Personal ones include a need for spiritual growth, overcoming life’s hardships, and reinforcing faith. Collective ones include the maintenance of religious traditions, preservation of ancestral memory, and the promotion of social solidarity. The study concludes that for Sufi women, visiting ziyarats is a fundamental element of both religious and social life, providing a vital space for spiritual development, social engagement, and the reinforcement of cultural identity.
WESTERN KAZAKHSTAN IN THE CONTEXT OF ETHNIC DEPORTATIONS FROM THE NORTH CAUCASUS
This article examines the deportation of North Caucasian peoples within the USSR to Western Kazakhstan during the Great Patriotic War, focusing on their social status and subsequent adaptation. The study investigates the resettlement and living conditions of “special settlers” within the Aktobe, West Kazakhstan, and Guryev regions. The research utilizes content analysis of contemporary publications on ethnic deportations from both the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, supplemented by European scholarship on the subject. The authors analyzed documents from local archives in Western Kazakhstan, cross-referencing them with materials from the primary central archives of Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as publicly available online data from the German Federal Military Archive. The analysis revealed significant discrepancies between regional and central archival records regarding the total number of special settlers, their geographic distribution, and their employment status in Western Kazakhstan. Additionally, the authors introduce previously unpublished materials transferred from regional departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (UMVD) to regional archival funds. The study concludes that the majority of special settlers in Western Kazakhstan were concentrated in the Aktobe region, while the remainder were stationed at the “Kazakhstanneftestroy” construction project in the Guryev region under the direct supervision of the NKVD. The identification of substantial gaps and contradictions in the accounting of North Caucasian special settlers highlights a significant opportunity for further research into the mechanisms of regional deportation policy.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sundetova A.N., Beknazarov R.A., Khazretali T.M.
THE NEWLY DISCOVERED CLASSICAL PERIOD TOMBS OF GARNI
This article is dedicated to the study of several burials from the Classical period that were accidentally uncovered during the installation of a water pipeline in the village of Garni, Kotayk Province, Republic of Armenia. In spring of 2022, a rescue excavation was carried out by a team from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, during which one slab-lined cist burial and three jar burials were unearthed and documented. The first of the jar burials revealed a distinctive ritual burial practice: the remains of a mother and child were interred alongside the heads of a cow and a calf within the same grave. The other two jar burials were associated with children. The slab-lined cist burial, which yielded relatively richer grave goods, contained the remains of a 15–16-year-old adolescent girl. The burial assemblage included two locally produced ceramic vessels and one imported unguentarium, along with personal items, jewelry, and a metal pair of scissors. A palynological analysis of the soil residues from the vessels suggested that two of them had contained a substance likely used for treating skin diseases. Based on the recovered material, a 3D reconstruction of the cist tomb was created. Both through parallels with contemporaneous archaeological sites and on the basis of radiocarbon (¹⁴C) dating, the newly discovered burials of Garni are dated to the 3rd–2nd centuries BC through the 1st century AD. Their study significantly enriches our understanding of urban life in Armenia during the classical period, offering new insights into daily life, diet, clothing, adornment, medical practices, belief systems, and funerary rituals of the time.
THE DEFENSE FUND AND PUBLIC INITIATIVES IN THE NORTH OSSETIAN ASSR DURING THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR
This article examines a critical aspect of the history of the Great Patriotic War: the interaction between Party-Soviet structures and the public in providing comprehensive support to the Red Army, specifically within the North Ossetian ASSR. A key issue requiring modern re-evaluation is the scope of patriotic initiatives aimed at supporting Red Army soldiers. These included monetary donations, the collection of gifts and warm clothing for front-line troops, initiatives to fund the construction of tank columns and air squadrons, participation in war loans and lotteries, and voluntary labor shifts (voskresniks). The study identifies a range of difficulties and systemic problems encountered during these fundraising efforts. An analysis of archival materials from the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania suggests that these patriotic initiatives – implemented under the leadership and organizational guidance of Party and Soviet bodies – were vital to strengthening the country's national defense. Drawing on these archival sources, the authors evaluate the measures taken to provide multifaceted aid to the Red Army and highlight the historical experience of regional authorities in managing financial and material contributions. The research concludes that public initiatives in North Ossetia played a significant role in supporting the front, serving as a testament to the heroism and self-sacrifice of the Ossetian people.
Copyright (c) 2026 Khubulova S.A., Khablieva L.C., Kuliyev F.M., Khubulova E.V. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Comprehensive paleodemographic study of the Koshkeldinsky 2 burial ground (Chechen Republic).
A paleodemographic study was conducted of the group that left the Koshkeldinsky 2 burial ground in the Gudermes district of the Chechen Republic, which is an old abandoned Muslim cemetery, approximately dates back to the 17th – first half of the 19th centuries. In 237 burials, 243 skeletons were found, determined by age and, for adults, also by sex. A comparative analysis was conducted. The peak mortality in the group falls on the first age cohort of 0-5 years, as well as in all the Caucasian groups we studied. The peak mortality of adult men and women falls on the final age cohort of 50+ years. In terms of the peak mortality in the group as a whole, the peaks of mortality of men and women, the group from the Koshkeldinsky burial ground is most similar to the groups from the Zmeysky burial ground (North Ossetia) and Krasnogorsk XIIb (Karachay-Cherkessia). The average life expectancy in the group from the Koshkeldinsky 2 burial ground is extremely low. In this regard, the group turned out to be closest to the Krasnogorskoye XIIb group (Karachay-Cherkessia). The percentage of infant mortality in the group from the Koshkeldinsky 2 burial ground turned out to be very high, 60.08%, the highest among the studied groups. Moreover, a third of the children died as newborns. The infant mortality rate indicates demographic disadvantage in the group. The group from Koshkeldy turned out to be closest to the Krasnogorskoye XIIb group (Karachay-Cherkessia) in this indicator. There were approximately 13% more adult men in the group than women. In all the studied groups, there were more men than women to one degree or another. The final age cohort (50+ years) in the group from the Koshkeldinsky 2 burial ground is not very representative, unlike, for example, the group from the Zmeysky burial ground. The majority of the final age group were men. At the same time, adult men and women in this age cohort show a peak in mortality, as well as in the groups from the Zmeysky burial ground and the Krasnogorskoye XIIb burial ground.
Copyright (c) 2026 Borutskaya S., Akhmarov A., Vasiliev S., Frizen S.
ARMENIAN STUDIES OF SOVIET EVERYDAY LIFE: A HISTORIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
The crisis of the humanities that began in the late 19th century triggered a search for new methodological and epistemological approaches to historical study throughout the 20th century. This evolution led to the emergence of new historiographical directions, one of which is the history of everyday life. Since the 1970s and 1980s, the history of everyday life has established itself as an independent branch of historical knowledge, gaining widespread recognition in Western, post-Soviet, and particularly Russian historiography. Amidst the enduring interest in this paradigm, discussions regarding the formation of an Armenian scholarly school dedicated to the history of everyday life have become increasingly relevant within Armenian historical thought. The purpose of this article is to introduce the broader scientific community to research initiatives focused on Soviet everyday life within Armenian historiography. In the context of studying Soviet-era Armenian society, this paper provides a generalized historiographical review of the most notable works in this field. Specifically, it highlights the methodological challenges addressed by Armenian specialists: defining the subject matter of the history of everyday life; establishing methodological foundations for research; developing approaches for the heuristic analysis of diverse source materials. Using qualitative content analysis, the article outlines the primary thematic areas of Armenian research, covering various aspects of social life in Soviet Armenia. Based on the current state of historiography in the region, the paper also examines the relevance and developmental prospects of this field. The history of everyday life may be considered a precursor to anthropologically oriented research in Armenian historiography, relying on interdisciplinary principles. Its rich methodological toolkit and diverse thematic scope, focusing not only on political history but on the broader spectrum of human activity, create new avenues for studying the Soviet past. Consequently, the article concludes that the history of everyday life, as a conceptual framework, offers new opportunities for a more comprehensive study of the history of Soviet Armenia.
Copyright (c) 2026 Zhamharyan G.A., Khachatryan K.H., Sukiasyan H.K.