Traces of Seismic Activity in Architectural Monuments in Derbent, Dagestan

Research on the Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent reveals that these monumental structures, dating back to the late 6th century AD, have endured multiple strong seismic events throughout their history. Five distinct episodes of seismogenic destruction were identified through analysis of deformed stone masonry, with notable rotations and damage occurring between the 6th and 8th centuries, likely due to seismic activity rather than solely military conflicts. Later repairs during the Derbent Emirate (8th–11th centuries) and Seljuk period may also have been prompted by seismic events, as indicated by the character of deformations. Additional seismic shocks were documented in the 14th century, with damage to the Juma Mosque, and again in the late 18th century, affecting structures like the women’s bathhouse and Peter the Great's dugout. The study combines architectural analysis with historical records to reconstruct the timeline of seismic activity in Derbent.

Korzhenkov, A. M., Gadzhiev, M. S., Ovsyuchenko, A. N., Lar’kov, A. S., & Rogozhin, E. A. (2020). Traces of Seismic Activity in Architectural Monuments in Derbent, Dagestan. Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics, 56(7), 633–656. https://doi.org/10.1134/s0001433820070051