Graves of Saints on the Mountains of the Southern Urals: Traditional Beliefs and Modern Perception

This article examines the historical development of the cult of sacred mountains on the basis of field materials gathered by the authors during archaeological and ethnographic research on Mount Awliya Tau in Kugarchinsky District, Bashkortostan in 2023, and on the works of contemporary researchers devoted to orolatry (veneration of mountains) in the Southern Urals.The research used a synergistic approach, integrating archaeological, ethnographic, and social media data with geoinformation mapping. The results reveal similar patterns and trends in the formation and development of sacred spaces associated with some mountain tops. Awliya Tau’s significance extends beyond traditional Muslim pilgrimage and tourism; it’s also integrated into contemporary religious and psychological practices, etc.