MAUSOLEUMS AT THE LAPAS VILLAGE: THE VIEW FROM SPACE

Abstract

The article is devoted to the description of a complex of mausoleums of the Golden Horde period near the Lapas village on the left bank of the Akhtuba River in the Astrakhan Region. The complex is known as the alleged burial place of the khans of the Golden Horde. The analysis of recently released high–quality space photos in the GOOGLE EARTH application allows us to take a fresh look at some features of these long– known archeological monuments. In the space images, the ruins of 8 mausoleums are clearly distinguishable, which are lined up in two chains stretching from east to west. The four largest buildings are enclosed by clay–built fences. In the southern wall of each fence there are entrances, designed in the form of a portal. The corners of one of the fences are fl anked by three–quarter towers. Plans of the mausoleums is diffi cult to read. We can see only portals facing the south. Four adobe–built mausoleums were also discovered, two of which were also surrounded by fences. Presumably, two medieval clay quarries can be traced, from where clay was used for the construction of mausoleums. Possible, the furnaces for the manufacturing of bricks can be located here too.