Upper Julat

 archaeological site, Medieval / Middle Ages, invisible, historic ruins

The Tatartupp archaeological site south of El'khotovo in southern Russia is the location of the medieval town of Upper Julat and possibly the Dedyakov (or Tetyakov) of medieval Russian chronicles. The town is believed to have been built by the Alans, sacked by the Mongols, and then rebuilt as a southern outpost of the so-called Golden Horde. The ruins include the remains of a mausoleum, two mosques, four minarets, and four churches. The only well-preserved ruin was one of the minarets of the main mosque, which was destroyed in 1981 in an unsuccessful attempt at conservation. In the fields southwest of the modern bridge across the Terek are located half a dozen burial mounds, but also one of the mosques and two of the churches. The medieval town's location was strategic for both military and commercial reasons, sitting astride the road to the El'khotovo pass across the Caucasus Mountains.