In southwestern Vladikavkaz, the capital of the Russian Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, there is a Bronze Age village called Dargavs, also known as the "dead city".
Visiting Russia's North Ossetia-Alania Republic, visitors are often introduced to Dargavs , a village of unique architecture, including fortified towers and a graveyard of 95 tombs from the Middle Ages.
The road to Dargavs village, where the medieval cemetery is located, is a 14km-long mountain slope. The highest place is 1,200m above sea level. To go to the "dead city" , one must drive further along the slopes of the Dargavs.
At the foot of the mountain is the Kizil River (meaning the Red River) around.The river was named after the battle of the Alans army with the Tatar-Mongol army in 1395. The battle was so bloody that the river water turned red.
After that battle, in order to solve the problem of burying the dead, they chose a rock slope where it was not suitable for grazing or farming, thus building tombs.
"Dead city" is located in a dry area, where water cannot settle and four surfaces are airy. After 700 years, this place became a "mecca" for archaeologists, scientists and tourists.All are still well preserved, allowing the study of the history of ancient peoples.
There are many legends about the "Dead City" Dargavs.One of them tells the story of a beautiful and mysterious girl who suddenly appeared in the village.All men in the village began to give up their families, work and battle to gain the right to marry the girl as a wife.Fighting matches have caused many deaths.
In order to resolve the dispute, the strange girl was taken to the council of elders. But even 70-year-old elders in the council rushed into the struggle. In the end, the women in the village decided by banishing the girl from the village and calling her "witch".
Men who do not want to let girls fall into anyone's hands should have killed her after many considerations.However, after her death, the plague hit the village.The living people began to build tombs from there to bury the dead.
The roofs of the tombs look like miniature Egyptian pyramids.
There are 95 tombs, divided into 3 types: lying on the ground (shaped like pyramids and double pyramids), located both on the ground and in the tunnel, and completely underground.The roof has many floors, so when it rains, water will flow down there, keeping the tomb completely dry.
In each tomb there is a small square entrance.Previously, it was covered with special wooden panels.The entrance is so small that an adult can hardly pass through.But if you get inside, everything will appear before your eyes.
From the outside can still see skulls, human bones and mummies buried 600-700 years ago.Even their clothes and some appliances are still left.
Message-inscribed tombs, for example: "Look at us with love. We used to be like you, you will be like us."
There are tombs containing hundreds of remains.A total of 10,000 dead people were buried in the graveyard.There are many coffins carved in the shape of a boat, although there is no nearby sea.This is due to the belief that after death, the dead must swim through the river to forget to enter the beyond.
The "dead city" Dargavs today become a tourist attraction.
Although it is profitable for the city, it also brings many dangers.Many remains were removed, making conservation difficult.
Local authorities are working hard to protect this historic site by controlling tourists more carefully.
