04 August 2021, 18:37
Crypts of “City of the Dead” in Dargavs to be closed due to wide public outcry about a video
The “City of the Dead” complex has got enhanced security, and it has been decided to block openings into all the crypts, Batraz Tsogoev, the director of the National Museum of North Ossetia, reports.
The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that in early August, a video filmed by a female tourist in the “City of the Dead” complex provoked a wide public outcry. The young woman is suspected of abusing human remains. The suspect complained about receiving threats on social media and explained her behaviour by ignorance and confidence that bones were a fake.
The architectural and ethnographic “City of the Dead” complex located near the village of Dargavs in the Prigorodny District of North Ossetia includes 97 crypts of the 14-18th centuries and is under the protection of UNESCO. This is the largest necropolis in Northern Caucasus.
According to Batraz Tsogoev, the director of the National Museum of North Ossetia, after the video had provoked the wide public outcry, it was decided to take additional measures to protect the memorial complex. “The security has been enhanced there, and we have got the permission to completely block all openings where people climb in and look in. We will completely block all the openings,” said the director of the museum.
Artist Uruzmag Pliev volunteered to make doors for the crypts. He is ready to make the doors at his own expense. The first door has been already ready. It is completely wooden, without any metal fasteners: it is believed that the authentic doors to the necropolis openings were made exactly like that.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 4, 2021 at 01:06 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Tamara Agkatseva Source: CK correspondent
