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Mysterious cemetery - Tucked away in a desolate corner of the Caucasus Mountains, the necropolis on the edge of the village of Dargavs is one of Russia’s most mysterious sites.

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Crypts -

The cemetery, which overlooks the Fiagdon River valley stretching 17 km, contains about 100 ancient stone crypts that date back about 500 years.

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Date - Nobody can say for sure when the oldest crypt is from. Some say it dates back to the 16th century, while other sources contend the earliest crypts are from the 12th century.

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Location -

The village lies within the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania in southern Russia. In the 7th century, the region was settled by Nomadic Alans, a group of people of Iranian origin.

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People - After being nearly decimated by Mongols and Tartars during several invasions throughout the Middle Ages, most of the remaining locals converted to Christianity and became known as Ossetians.

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Burial -

In those dwellings, the ancestors of the Ossetians that lived in the valley buried their loved ones along with their belongings.

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Visit, if you dare - The place has remained desolate for two reasons. First because it is located three hours away from anywhere, and the car journey involves following narrow roads through windy, uneven terrain.

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Visit, if you dare - Secondly, locals have long believed that those who entered the burial site would not return.

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Family crypt -

Each crypt is believed to have been designated to a family or clan, where all members were buried. Skulls and bones can still be seen inside.

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Lonely death -

Upon sensing the end was near, the last member of a family would reportedly go in his family crypt and wait for death to strike.

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Mysterious boat people -

Boat-like structures have been found in some of the crypts and even an oar is said to have been found there.

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Mysterious boats -

No one knows why the wooden structures were placed in the crypts since there were no navigable bodies of water around.

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Mysterious boats - But one theory contends that the local people believed the dead had to cross a river to reach Heaven, similar to beliefs of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. 

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Wells of Heaven -

Additionally, wells exist in front of the crypts. Local legends say that after burying their loved ones, the Ossetians would drop a coin in the well. If the coin hit a stone at the bottom, that meant the resting soul had reached Heaven

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Kidnapped maiden - Another legend says that a group of warriors brought a kidnapped girl from a different land to the site, but their plan backfired.

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Kidnapped maiden - When the group of men couldn't decide who owned the maiden, they killed her, the legend says. The gods punished the highlanders for their crime, submitting them to a long, painful death in the mausoleums.

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Origins -

Despite the many tales, historians believe that the dwellings were built during a plague outbreak between the 16th and 18th centuries that swept the village.

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Quarantine -

The crypts were necessary to quarantine those affected. The sick reportedly volunteered to be quarantined in the hut-like structures to prevent the spread of the disease. They were given food and water by sympathetic locals.

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Architecture - The crypts were built in ancient Nakh style, according to the Vintage News. The larger mausoleums feature ridged curved roofs and a pointed peak at the top. The walls are made of stone blocks likely mortared with limestone. The smaller ones feature a flat roof.

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Watchtower -

At the back of the complex, a tower stands high above the site, reportedly built to watch over the resting souls.

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Height -

The tallest crypts can reach two to four stories high.

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Tourism -

Though the road there is uncomfortable and relatively unsafe, the journey can be done by car.

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Once there - The place offers plenty of exploring opportunities. Visitors can climb to the top of the watchtower and explore some of the crypts, though many are permanently closed shut. But visitors can peak at the eerie skeletons that remain inside the ones that are still open.

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Keep in mind -

It’s important to note that the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania is contested territory and, as such, has been the target of terrorist activities in recent years. So caution must be exercised.

See also: The history and mystery of the Devil's Bridge

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