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Peoples of Russia
Tsakhurs
The Tsakhurs are one of the native peoples of Caucasus, historically inhabiting the southwestern Dagestan. Their self-designation is Yiqby.
Language
They speak the Tsakhur language belonging to the Lezgin subgroup of the Nakh-Dagestan branch of the Northern Caucasus language family. This language consists of the Tsakh and Gelmets dialects. The majority of Tsakhurs know the Lezgin, Azerbaijani or Russian languages.
Dispersion
In Dagestan, the Tsakhurs populate the highland area of the Rutul region in the upper reaches of the river Samur (Mountain Magal). 2 thousand live in Makhachkala, 0.5 thousand in Kizlyar region of Dagestan. Many ancient settlements are currently abandoned, the Tsakhurs have moved into the territory of Azerbaijan where they live on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and the foothills in the Zaqatala and Qakh districts.
Traditional occupations
Bogharic (dry) farming and cattle breeding were widespread. Women traditionally processed leather, sheepskin and wool, made carpets and palas napless carpets. Men went off to earn money. In the modern economy, distant pasture cattle breeding is prevalent, farming experiences a new surge in the mountains. As for the home crafts, knitting and carpet making are still popular.
National costume
Traditional male costume: trousers, shirt, beshmet undertunic, long chokha without a fastening, conical peaked sheepskin hat, astrakhan hat, bashlyk hood. A necessary element of male costume is a leather belt with a dagger. Female costume: trousers, shirt, wide skirt, beshmets of various cuts, apron, bonnet hat (dugmache) completely covered by silver decorations (plaques, coins, chains).
Dwellings
The settlements of the Dagestan Tsakhurs are located in the hard-to-access mountain peaks, in river bends, on steep banks. The shape of the settlements depended on the lie of the ground. The main type of dwelling were one-storey stone houses with a flat mud roof and a solid wall with an entrance door looking out into the street. The outbuildings were located separately from the house, often forming a special block on the outskirts of an aul. Their modern dwellings usually are two-storey houses with verandas.
Food
The traditional food consisted of flour and meat and dairy products. The share of vegetables and fruit was insignificant, wild herbs were used instead. Popular dishes were khinkal served with meat, brynza cheese and garlic sauce, gruels, dumplings and pies (chudu) with various fillings. Sheep herders baked in charcoals a lamb’s stomach or a whole lamb wrapped in a skin, stuffed with entrails and cured fat with addition of aromatic herbs.
