Publications
The role of the Russian state in the formation and development of international trade with the countries of the Muslim East along the medieval North-South transit corridor
Research reveals that the Russian state played a pivotal role in establishing and controlling international trade along the medieval North-South transit corridor, particularly through the Volga-Caspian route. This control was solidified after the collapse of the Golden Horde (1502) and the conquest of the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates by Ivan the Terrible, enabling Moscow to dominate this critical trade artery. The study highlights how Astrakhan, founded in 1558, became a major trading hub attracting merchants from Persia, Shamakhi, Bukhara, Khiva, and other Eastern cities, generating substantial revenue for the Russian treasury. The research, based on Arabic, English, Russian, and local sources alongside archaeological data, employs historicism, objectivity, and an interdisciplinary approach to analyze trade routes, economic centers, and goods such as furs from the 'Russian North,' which were highly valued in Eastern markets.
Materials on the Genealogy of the Hereditary Muslim Nobility of Derbent
A previously unknown 18th-century Arabic manuscript, 'The List of Seyids of the City of Derbent,' reveals the structure and privileges of the hereditary Muslim nobility in Derbent during the late Khanate era. This rare document, alongside Russian archival records and other historical sources, demonstrates that the Descendants of the Prophet Muhammad (Seyids) in Derbent maintained distinct social status and economic benefits—such as revenue from ancient waqf endowments—under Dagestani Shi’ite khans. Unlike Kazikumukh sharifs, these Seyids faced attempts by outsiders to claim membership, a phenomenon resisted by local communities with the backing of khanate authority. The study provides new insights into the genealogy and social dynamics of this noble lineage during a pivotal period in Caucasian history.
Derbent’s underwater cultural heritage as a tourist resource
Underwater archaeological research near Derbent, Russia's southernmost city, has uncovered significant historical artifacts and ancient fortification remains on the Caspian Sea floor. These findings hold potential as a unique tourist resource, particularly for recreational diving and underwater museology. The study employed geographical mapping techniques to analyze the submerged structures and divers' discoveries, assessing their viability for tourism development. It also advocates for stronger integration of Dagestan's historical and geographical sciences to deepen historical reconstructions. A proposed underwater park project aims to further leverage this cultural heritage, offering a glimpse into Russia's lesser-known maritime history.
Water facilities in the architectural and socio-cultural space of the city (on the example of medieval Derbent)
Medieval Derbent, the southernmost and most ancient city of Russia, showcases how water facilities played a pivotal role in shaping its architectural and socio-cultural landscape. A comprehensive analysis reveals that these structures, integral to urban planning, were designed with cohesive materials and styles that created a unified environment. The study highlights surviving water bodies as key elements in the city's development, offering insights into their historical significance and functional integration within Derbent's socio-cultural fabric.
Derbent in the history of Zoroastrianism in the Caucasus
Derbent emerged as a pivotal multi-ethnic city and fortress in the 6th century AD, playing a crucial role in the geopolitical struggles between Rome and Sasanian Iran. This study reveals that Derbent's rulers, who controlled the strategic Derbent Passage, significantly influenced the region's religious and political landscape. While the local population was predominantly Christian, aligned with Byzantine influences, Persian nobility, garrison, and administration adhered to Zoroastrianism. The research, based on interdisciplinary methods and analysis of ancient texts, epigraphy, and archaeological data from Derbent (1970–1995), highlights how anti-Iranian uprisings in the Caucasus were closely tied to Derbent's political orientation, demonstrating its central role in the spread and resistance against Zoroastrianism.
Ancient Derbent in the History of the Early Christian World
Derbent's citadel, a 5th–7th century fortress, is revealed as not only a military stronghold but also the Caucasus' largest economic and religious center during Sasanian rule (439–484 AD). Archaeological excavations uncovered a cruciform Christian temple within the citadel, later repurposed as a reservoir, dating to the 5th century. This discovery was confirmed in 2020 using georadar, laser scanning, and photogrammetry, solidifying Derbent's significance in early Christian history. The study highlights its role in anti-Iranian uprisings, where Caucasian rulers allied with nomads against Sasanian persecution of Christianity.
Excavation of Derbent Settlement in 2019
Excavations at the Derbent settlement in 2019 uncovered a complex of 11 rooms and medieval Muslim burials, providing new insights into the site's historical topography, architecture, and chronology. The findings date the inhabited structures to the 5th century AD, with evidence suggesting their abandonment during significant military-political events such as the anti-Sasanian revolt (450-451 AD) or the Iran-Savir war (503-508 AD). Chronological indicators like bronze belt buckles and fibulae, along with Sasanian pottery, support this dating. The excavation sheds light on the settlement's role as a crucial administrative, military, and religious center in East Caucasus, known historically as Chor/Chol.
The Rubas Fortification of the Mid 6th Century: Features of the Structure of the Eastern Facade of Wall 2
The Rubas fortification, a unique 6th-century defensive complex in the Western Caspian region, offers insights into Persian and Byzantine military engineering during the Great People’s Migration. Its eastern facade of Wall 2 reveals a sophisticated synthesis of structural elements tailored to resist assaults from nomadic Turkic tribes. The study identifies distinct functional sections within this facade, demonstrating how engineering solutions were shaped by external loads and enemy tactics. Through detailed analysis of construction techniques and structural components, the research clarifies the fortification’s strategic design, contributing to our understanding of 6th-century defensive architecture in Derbent.
Underground Cruciform Structure in Naryn-Kala: A Church? Pro et Contra
A cruciform underground structure in the Derbent citadel Naryn-Kala, previously assumed to be a 17th–18th century water reservoir, has been reinterpreted as a possible Christian church from the 5th–6th centuries. While this hypothesis gained recognition without substantial evidence, it lacks solid archaeological or architectural support. Alternative interpretations, such as a Zoroastrian fire temple (proposed in 1998) or a Christian martyrium (2020), also face contradictions with available data. The structure's true purpose remains unresolved, underscoring the need for comprehensive, non-invasive studies—including magnetometry and archaeological analysis—to clarify its function and historical significance without resorting to large-scale excavations.
Water Mill Stones from Shachsengersky Town
A water mill stone, discovered during the excavation of Derbent's Shakhsenger settlement citadel, provides archaeological evidence of early water milling technology in the Caucasus. The finding suggests that Pontian-type water mills, introduced by Mithridates in the 1st century BCE, spread across the region, including Armenia and later into Daghestan during the Arab expansion. Historical records indicate that Caliph Harun al-Rashid built mills in Derbent around 789–790 CE, reinforcing the site's significance as a hub for technological advancement. The study highlights the continuity of water milling traditions from ancient to medieval periods, offering insights into the cultural and economic exchanges along the Caucasus corridor.
Excavation of Derbent Settlement in 2017
Excavations at the Derbent settlement in 2017 revealed a 5th-century AD residential and economic complex, including nine rooms, providing new insights into the historical topography, architecture, and daily life of this significant East Caucasus center. The findings, dated using artifacts like Sasanian pottery and bronze belt buckles, suggest the settlement's abandonment during the mid-5th to early 6th century due to military-political events such as the anti-Sasanian revolt (450–451 AD) or the Iran-Savir war (503–508 AD). The study also uncovered medieval Muslim burials, contributing to understanding Derbent's cultural and historical evolution before its transformation into a fortified city.
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.
A Burial of 915 A.H. at the Walls of Derbent
Archaeological research at the UNESCO-listed Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent has uncovered a 16th-century Muslim grave, dated to 915 A.H. (1509-10 A.D.), bearing an epitaph that identifies the deceased as Shah Vali b. Shaqil, a figure posthumously honored with the title 'happy martyr' (šahīd al-sa‘īd). The grave's date coincides with the siege of Derbent by Shah Ismail Safavi's forces, offering new historical insight into the region's turbulent period. The study, published in Iran and the Caucasus, relies on epigraphic analysis to reconstruct this moment in Derbent's history.
Muon Radiography Method for Non-Invasive Probing an Archaeological Site in the Naryn-Kala Citadel
Muon radiography emerges as a powerful, non-invasive tool for probing the hidden structures of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A two-month experiment at Derbent’s Naryn-Kala Citadel, using nuclear emulsion detectors buried 10 meters underground, demonstrated the method’s potential to reconstruct internal archaeological features with unprecedented resolution. By leveraging muon radiography combined with advanced image analysis, researchers achieved a high-resolution 3D reconstruction of subsurface structures, offering a novel approach for studying inaccessible or buried heritage sites without physical intrusion.
Excavation of the Derbent Settlement in 2016
Archaeological excavations at the Derbent settlement, conducted in 2016, revealed a complex of residential structures and outbuildings dating from the first half to the middle of the 5th century AD. This discovery sheds light on the city-fortress Chor/Chol, an important administrative, political, and religious center in the Eastern Caucasus, known to ancient Armenian, Georgian, Syrian, early Byzantine, and Arab authors. The settlement predated the construction of Derbent's defensive complex in the late 560s and was gradually abandoned after the establishment of a new city. The research, supported by the Russian Humanitarian Scientific Foundation, utilized cultural layers, construction remains (rooms 6, 7, 8), and economic remains to characterize the population's culture and life. Chronological indicators such as bronze belt buckles and Sasanian pottery were employed to date the complex, which is believed to have ceased existence during turbulent military-political events in the mid-450s, including an anti-Sasanian insurrection and a ruinous invasion by the Huns.
Reading Ruins against the Grain: Istanbul, Derbent, Postcoloniality
The ruins of church-mosques, museums, and ancient cities serve as powerful allegories that evoke transcendence amid the desacralized conditions of post-imperial modernities. This study advances the understanding of ruins' functioning across diverse temporal contexts by drawing on the works of Benjamin, Jameson, and Koselleck. Focusing on Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, the Museum of Islamic Art, and the ancient city of Derbent in Daghestan, it highlights the variability of ruins as sites of political mobilization, particularly within a postcolonial framework. The research employs an ethnographic approach to explore these paradoxes, offering insights into how monuments function in contemporary urban spaces.
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