The Ossetian towers-sanctuaries of Erman Valley

Abstract

The author describes the features of three towers in the Upper and Middle Erman Villages at the source of the Big Liakhva in South Ossetia, at an altitude of about 2200 m. The area was inhabited from the north, out of the Kurtaty Gorge. On the corners of these towers or on each side there is a series of graffiti, including 4–5 tamga-signs and solar signs. Such towers had an entrance oriented to the south and stood below the others. Next to them there were vacant areas and a small building. Those are probably sanctuary towers (dzuar mæsyg), but it was not their original function. The feature came about after diminishing the war dangers for towers owned by clans that had illustrious ancestors. Such towers usually belonged to the most influential clans. The prayers and sacrifices were performed by a few elderly men, and the kuvd feasts were held outside. To the right of the entrance was depicted the emblem of the lineages (sometimes surrounded by solar signs) to which the tower belonged, as well as 3–4 tamga-signs of other lineages. Sometimes near such a tower there was a flat stone on which participants in prayers and banquets wrote their initials.