Egikal

Egikal Эгикал
Aul
Other transcription(s)
• Ingush	Аьгикхаьлла
File:Egikhal.jpg
Coordinates:
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Ingushetia
Population  (2010 Census)
• Total	5
Administrative status
• Subordinated to	Dzheyrakhsky District

Egikal (Russian: Эгикал; Ingush: Аьги-Кхаьлла, romanized: Ägi-Qälla, lit. 'Settlement of Ägi') is a city-settlement (aul) in the Dzheyrakhsky District of Ingushetia. It is part of the rural settlement (administrative center) of Guli. Within its territory are numerous cultural monuments of ancient and medieval Ingush architecture: cyclopean tower-type dwellings, five combat towers (Ingush: вӀов, vhóv), six semi-combat towers, and fifty residential towers (Ingush: гӀала, ghāla). There are also a large number of diverse burial sites, including 106 crypt burial grounds, one mausoleum, and three sanctuaries. These structures, along with the entire territory of the settlement, are currently part of the Dzheyrakh-Assa State Historical, Architectural and Natural Museum-Reserve and are under state protection.

Geography

Egikal is located 85 km south of the capital, Magas, and 25 km east of the district centre, Dzheyrakh. The nearest settlements are: Barkhane and Tori to the north, Targim to the east, Khamkhi to the southeast, and Leymi and Ozig to the west.

History

Within the settlement is a site associated with the Kura–Araxes culture, known as the “Egikal burial ground”. It is located to the west of the settlement, toward the Targim Basin, on the southern slopes of a rocky range, and dates to the end of the 3rd millennium BC. The burial ground was discovered and studied by B. M. Khashagulgov in 1988. Also located in Egikal are the remains of more than 15 megalithic cyclopean dwellings dating from the second half of the 2nd millennium BC to the 15th century AD.

Demographics

According to the censuses conducted in 1874, 1883, 1890, 1914, and 1926, the population of Egikal consisted entirely of ethnic Ingush people.

External links

• Открытый Кавказ
• Egikal: 3D virtual tour