Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 40 (2) 2012

Annotation:  The Upper Paleolithic Assemblages of Shugnou, Tajikistan Fish Bones in Odino Ritual Complexes at Preobrazhenka-6, Western Siberia Copper Mines, Chromite Copper Ores and Slags of the Ishkinino Bronze Age Archaeological Microregion, On the Origins of Decorative Traditions in the Early Bronze Age Pottery of the Middle Tobol Basin, W Suruktakh-Khaya Sanctuary, Yakutia, Revisited: Tentative Results and Prospects Early Iron Age Archer’s Finger Tab from the Eastern Amur Region Medieval (9th–13th Century) Combs from Northwestern Siberia The Masoleums of Majar in 18th-Century Descriptions and Drawings Qasar-Qurug: Western Headquarters of the Uighur Khagans and the Problem of Por-Bazhyn Identifi catio Grave Circle B at Mycenae in the Context of Links Between the Eastern Mediterranean and Scandinavia Tobolsk Enkolpion Traditional Perceptions of the Dog Among the Khakas People of the Late 19th–mid 20th Century Impact of Salmon Fishing on Livelihood and Social Relations Among the Ulchi and the Amur Nanai (Seco NULLEmotion, Identity, and Death in the Greek Tradition and Beyond On the Biological Affi nities of People of the “Lappish Parishes”: A Craniometric Analysis of the 17   

The Masoleums of Majar in 18th-Century Descriptions and Drawings

E.D. Zilivinskaya and D.V. Vasiliev.

The article focuses on the buildings of Majar, the largest Golden Horde city in the North Caucasus. Many of these buildings, mostly mausoleums, survived until the end of the 18th century. The main source for studying the mausoleums of Majar are the drawings and descriptions made by explorers and travelers such as J.-G. Gaerber, by members of the V.N. Tatischev expedition as well as by S.G. Gmelin, J.A. Guldenstadt, P.S. Pallas, J.N. Potocki, and K.E. von Baer. Excavations conducted in the 20th century yielded less signifi cant results. A detailed analysis of all available sources reveals the variety of planning and architectural forms expressed in the Majar mausoleums, which are similar to the religious architectural monuments of Iran, Western Central Asia, Azerbaijan and Asia Minor.

Keywords: Majar; Golden Horde, North Caucasus, mausoleums, Iran, Western Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Asia Minor.