Orta-Kapi Gate In Derbent: archaeological research
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24852/2587-6112.2026.5.138.155Keywords:
archaeology, Caucasus, Derbent, medieval city, city gate, archaeological excavations, civil and defensive architectureAbstract
Gate of Orta-kapy (in translation from Turkic – “Middle Gate”) is the central gate of the southern city wall of Derbent, probably bearing the name Bab al-Hadid under the Arabs (Arabic for “Iron Gate”). In November 2020, heavy rains partially destroyed the western flanking tower of the gate. In 2023, "ТСНРУ" JSC (Kazan) began repair and restoration work on this cultural heritage site. As part of these works, the Derbent Archaeological Expedition conducted archaeological investigations, excavating test pit 45 directly adjacent to the tower. As a result of the work, the stratigraphy, nature and thickness of the cultural strata adjacent to the western tower of the Orta-kapy Gate were determined, along with their chronology spanning the 10th to the first quarter of the 13th century. The nature and dating of the masonry of the lower rows of the tower, the ancient day surface of the construction of the tower (and the gate) in the late 560s – early 570s were established. The character and dating of the masonry of the tower lower rows were also established, as well as the original ground surface dating to the construction of the tower and gate in the late 560s to early 570s. At the same time, some new data on the historical topography and water supply system of medieval Derbent were obtained. The additional architectural parameters of the western tower of the Orta-kapy Gate acquired during the archaeological excavations must be taken into account in any potential future conservaton works on this architectural heritage site.
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