Open AccessArchitectural and spatial organization of fortified settlements in Western Alania
Author(s) -
Julia Treyman
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
iop conference series. materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1757-899X
pISSN - 1757-8981
DOI - 10.1088/1757-899x/698/3/033035
Subject(s) - human settlement , fortress (chess) , byzantine architecture , situated , archaeology , geography , craft , cultural heritage , settlement (finance) , history , ancient history , computer science , artificial intelligence , world wide web , payment
The article is dedicated to the medieval settlements architectural peculiarities revealing in Western Alania. These settlements were situated in the river ravines in the Karachay-Cherkessia territory. According to the planning criterion two types of settlements have been revealed: traditional and contaminated. The traditional type was formed during the pre-Christian period. Its three-part structure was the universe mythological model spatial manifestation. The contaminated type appeared during the Christian period. The peculiarities of its architectural and spatial organization are connected to the fact that its planning structure developed according to the byzantine Christian city scheme with the traditional Alan culture understanding. These types developed following the fortified settlement pattern, whose planning structure consisted of a citadel, a fortress and a fortified hillfort, but both types had different fortifications. According to the fortification criteria and the location in the landscape the above-mentioned types are united within a group of three kinds fortified settlements: the main fortresses (the vanguards), naturally protected settlements and guarded settlements (cultural and ideological centers, trade and craft centers).