ON THE MONUMENTS OF THE LATE STAGE OF THE KAYAKENT-KHOROCHOEVSKAYA CULTURE OF THE NORTH-EASTERN CAUCASUS

This article examines the burial sites of the late phase of the Kayakent-Khorochoy culture in Dagestan and Chechnya and addresses ongoing debates concerning their ethnocultural affiliation and interpretation. The study analyzes issues related to the understanding of materials from the final phase of the Kayakent-Khorochoy culture. Some archaeologists, including V.I. Kanivtsev, V.G. Kotovich, V.M. Kotovich, and O.M. Davudov, argue that the late phase represents an independent period within the Bronze Age culture of Dagestan and Chechnya or a distinct stage in the cultural and historical development of the Pradagestano-Namen ethnic massif. Conversely, the majority of scholars, such as E.I. Krupnov, V.I. Markovin, M.G. Gadzhiev, M.Kh. Oshaev, G.D. Ataev, R.G. Magomedov, S.B. Burkov, and A.L. Budaichiev, contend that the materials from the late phase sites are genetically linked to earlier phases of the Kayakent-Khorochoy culture. They reject the characterization of the late phase sites as an independent period disconnected from earlier cultural phases. Recent investigations of newly discovered Kayakent-Khorochoy culture burial sites provide evidence supporting the views of V.G. Kotovich and others, particularly regarding the disappearance of various ceramic forms, numerous types of bronze jewelry, and the absence of antimony-based jewelry in the materials from the final phase. These findings challenge the designation of an independent Talginsky stage, suggesting instead that the Talginsky burial ground and related burial sites are integrally connected to earlier Kayakent-Khorochoy culture sites. The article also discusses issues of periodization and chronology of these burial sites.