NEW SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCES ABOUT THE DZHINAL GROTTO IN THE UPPER VALLEY OF THE YUTSA RIVER IN THE VICINITY OF KISLOVODSK

In the proposed article are published new scientific evidences on a unique historical place – Dzhinal grotto, which is situated in the highlands, difficult to pass, near the Kislovodsk in the western part of administrative boundary between Stavropol Area and Kabardin-Balkar Republic. The grotto was known to local historians from the 1970s. In 1983 was published the first short scientific description of Dzhinal grotto. On August 30, 2020 one of two authors of this article visited this historical place and made photographic recording of current condition of the Dzhinal grotto. These photographic and other materials along with previous articles became the base of this scientific publication. Old-time tamgas and petroglyphs  charaterized in this article. Also provides information about collection of tamgas of the 18-19^th centuries. Provides characteristic of ethnic composition of Yutsa valley population at the end of the XVIIIth – the first half of the 19^th century. As a result of the research, the authors  concluded that Dzhinal grotto earlier than the beginning or the middle of the 19^th century was used as a sanctuary, by the kabardian and abaza inhabitants of Yutsa valley. This sacred place, probably, was associated with a pagan rituals and cults  of cattle breeding, fertility and hunting.

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