{"id":2409,"date":"2023-05-17T08:02:49","date_gmt":"2023-05-17T08:02:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kasifiz.com\/english\/russias-mysterious-city-of-the-dead-dargavs\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T11:40:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T11:40:54","slug":"russias-mysterious-city-of-the-dead-dargavs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kasifiz.com\/english\/russias-mysterious-city-of-the-dead-dargavs\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia’s Mysterious City of the Dead, Dargavs"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/figure>\n

Dargavs is a settlement located on the Gizeldon River in the Prigorodny Rayon of the Russian Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. It is one of the most interesting and mysterious places not only in Russia but also in the whole world. Located at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains, Dargavs is home to the graves of thousands of dead dating back centuries. The necropolis area, called the “City of the Dead”, is still a mystery, although years have passed and many researches have been done. This region has inspired many speculations and theories that have triggered people’s curiosity and imagination.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some of the tombs at Dargavs have highly complex structures, while others are marked by simpler structures. Most of the tombs are preserved with stone structures and arranged in a remarkable way. The necropolis consists of 99 different tombs and crypts. According to some sources, the oldest of the crypts dates back to the 12th century, while other sources state that the oldest burial can be dated to the 14th century or even the 16th century. A tower can still be observed behind the site, although it has been damaged over time. In addition, items and symbols were found in some tombs, but their meanings are still not fully deciphered.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

Visiting Dargavs City of the Dead<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dargavs has an important place in traditional Ossetian folk culture and has inspired some mythological beliefs. For this reason, the Dargavs have been a major focus of interest, both in history and archeology, and in mysticism and legends. However, what exactly Dargavs was used for, by whom it was built, and the meaning of the mysterious details in the tombs are still not clear.<\/p>\n

There are various legends about the cemetery in Dargavs. One of these legends is that anyone who dares enter the cemetery will never come out alive. This legend is considered one reason why locals almost never go to the cemetery.<\/p>\n

Archaeologists and historians are constantly working in this field. But more evidence and research is needed to reach a firm conclusion. With its mystical atmosphere, historical significance and mysterious tombs, Dargavs remains a place that attracts and awes visitors.<\/p>\n

The transportation difficulties of the region ensured that Dargavs remained an isolated and protected area. This has caused the number of tourists to be low and the region to remain as an undiscovered treasure. To reach Dargavs, a journey starting from Vladikavkaz is required. This journey is an hour long process that requires crossing narrow roads and many hills.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

Theories About Dargavs<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Located in one of the remote corners of Russia, this ancient cemetery is home to the remains of thousands of people, many of whom were sent off to eternity with their clothes and belongings. According to some theories, this area was used as part of farmland that had been burned and rendered unproductive during the Mongol-Tatar invasion in the 13th century. Local people living in a valley at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains started to build above-ground cellars to save space. Originally these areas were used for storage, but were later converted as burial grounds.<\/p>\n

Another thesis argues that the City of the Dead was built by the nomadic Sarmatians who settled in southern Russia and buried their dead above the ground out of respect for the land. It is even thought that this belief comes from the Indo-Iranian tradition. However, since the accuracy of both theses has not been proven, it is not known exactly for what purpose and how this mysterious cemetery in Dargavs was built. When experts examine the remains, they find it difficult to say that this was done on purpose.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

The story of the City of the Dead can be associated with another reality. This is related to the plague epidemics that occurred in the 17th and 18th centuries. Allegedly, residents of the village who contracted the plague may have quarantined themselves to these cellars in Dargavs as their death approaches. The fact that this claim is supported by the remains brings the researchers a little closer to the truth.<\/p>\n

This thesis offers a new perspective on the origin and use of the cemetery. In times of plague epidemics, quarantine measures were common practice. Allegedly, the cellars in Dargavs may have been used to prevent the spread of the disease and to contain the epidemic. This suggests that the cemetery area has an important medical and social function. There is no conclusive evidence that the tombs found in Dargavs were associated with plague epidemics. However, this claim offers a new perspective on the history and purpose of the cemetery.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

Architecture of Dargavs and Researches<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The City of the Dead has a remarkable structure consisting of preserved roof cellars from the Middle Ages. The city presents such an impressive image that it can be thought of as a settlement when viewed from afar. Researchers descending into the cellars stated that some corpses were buried in boats similar to wooden coffins, and that even corpses with oars were discovered. Some historians have suggested that ancient inhabitants believed in a river crossing to reach heaven.<\/p>\n

The layout and plan of the City of the Dead at Dargavs is similar to the necropolises at Itum-Kali, where some crypts are sparse, but tombs and crypts are located close to the hills or mountains. At the highest point or higher than other buildings, there is always a tower for observing the dead. The crypts also rise to form a series towards the mountain side, some built into the mountainside. The sparse distribution of the crypts and their harmonious positioning with the hills suggest that the site was created by a society that respected the peace of the dead. These similarities show important connections and interactions in the history of the region.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

The crypts are noteworthy as stepped structures with inwardly sloping roofs and a pointed crest at the top. The anterior and posterior parts of the small crypts have a straight edge, while the sides are curved inward. The smallest crypt has no roof. The walls are made of stone blocks and were built using mortar, possibly with lime or a clay-lime mixture. There are square slits in the walls for corpses to be placed. Inside the crypts, pointed groin vaults can be seen to support the roof, or in smaller crypts, pointed barrel vaults. Larger crypts can be 2 to 4 stories high, suggesting that these structures can vary in size.<\/p>\n

To see this mysterious cemetery, many visitors travel to explore its well-preserved medieval architecture. Historian Luidmila Gaboeva stated that she believed that more could be found in Dargavs, and stated that the cemetery still preserves all its mystery.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dargavs is a settlement located on the Gizeldon River in the Prigorodny Rayon of the Russian Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. It is one of the most interesting and mysterious places not only in Russia but also in the whole world. Located at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains, Dargavs is home to the graves of … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2410,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,43],"tags":[1374,2248,2123,1365,1891],"class_list":["post-2409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-genel","category-why","tag-city","tag-dargavs","tag-dead","tag-mysterious","tag-russias"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kasifiz.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kasifiz.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kasifiz.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kasifiz.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kasifiz.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2409"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kasifiz.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2409\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kasifiz.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kasifiz.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kasifiz.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kasifiz.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}