To the question of the origin and evolution of megalithic architecture of the Western Caucasus

Aim. The article considers the problems of the emergence and evolution of the architecture of megalithic structures in the Western Caucasus, their semantics as architectural structures, the reasons for the emergence and development of megalithic architecture.

Methodology. The methods of an integrated interdisciplinary approach and empirical research were used. Measurements, observations and comparisons of megalithic monuments and the surrounding sacred landscapes were carried out.

Results. The hypothesis is proposed that the emergence and development of megalithic architecture is associated with human interaction with sacred landscapes. There were identified ancient sacred natural objects that were the harbingers of the emergence of man-made megaliths. "Proto-dolmen" man-made forms have been discovered, which in the process of evolution transformed into dolmens. The symbolic astronomical directions marked by the axes and tops of the revered natural stones coincide with the main directions of the celestial orientation of the dolmen monuments. Many of these stones were later built into dolmen ensembles. Some of them were transformed into semimonolithic (rock) dolmens. The line of development is traced from natural altar stones to developed structures with a three-part structure and interior space.

Research implications. The emergence of megalithic architecture should be considered as a result of human interaction with sacred landscapes and objects. Interacting with these objects, humans created "proto-dolmen" forms, which in the process of evolution were transformed into dolmens.

1. Erlich, V. R., Kleshchenko, A. A., Gak, E. I. & Godizov, G. L. (2022). Archaeological complex Shushuk – a reference post-dolmenny monument of the foothills of the North-West Caucasus of the Middle – Late Bronze Age. In: Russian archeology, 1, 7–23 (in Russ.).

2. Dmitriev, A. V. (2022). Dolmen. Researchers' misconceptions and breaking the deadlock (Logical analysis of conclusions). In: Materials and research on the archeology of the North Caucasus, 22, 20–35 (in Russ.).

3. Markovin, V. I. (2000). Dolmen of the Western Caucasus: mysticism, scientific opinions and prospects for further study. In: Russian archeology, 1, 26–42 (in Russ.).

4. Kudin, M. I. & Svetloyarskaya, A. A. (2023). Landscape as a subject of protection of monuments of megalithic architecture. In: Dolmens of the Western Caucasus: new and traditional approaches to study. Maykop, 96–103 (in Russ.).

5. Eliade, M. (1994). Sacred and worldly. Moscow: Moscow State University Publ. (in Russ.).

6. Podosinov, A. V. (1999). Ex oriente lux! Orientation to cardinal points in archaic cultures of Eurasia. Moscow: Languages of Russian culture (in Russ.).

7. Bianchi, A. M. (2012). Decor of two dolmens of the Solonitsky ridge and the problem of its interpreta- tion. In: Notes of the IIMK RAS, 7, 46–55 (in Russ.).

8. Genon, R. (2002). Symbols of sacred science. Moscow: Belovodye Publ. (in Russ.).

9. Shortanov, A. T. (2016). Adyghe (Circassian) mythology and cults. Nalchik: Publishing House M. and V. Kotlyarov (in Russ.).

10. Kudin, M. I. & Glazov, K. A. (2022). Location and orientation of dolmens in the landscape using the example of monuments of Greater Sochi. In: Reports of the Sochi branch of the Russian Geographical Society. Iss. 6. Sochi, 38–45 (in Russ.).

11. Pavlov, N. L. (2001). Altar. Stupa. Temple. Archaic universe in the architecture of the Indo-Europeans. Moscow: OLMA-PRESS Publ. (in Russ.).

12. Trifonov, V. A. (2001). What do we know about the dolmens of the Western Caucasus and what the history of their study teaches. In: Dolmens are contemporaries of ancient civilizations. Krasnodar: Kras- nodar Book Publishing House, 20–54 (in Russ.).

13. Dmitriev, A. V. (2001). Stone giants of the Black Sea. In: Dolmen contemporaries of ancient civilizations. Krasnodar: Krasnodar Book Publishing House, 56–87 (in Russ.).

14. Dmitriev, V. A. (2001). Metrology and prerequisites for the "eternal" sacralization of megalithic mon- uments. In: Dolmen contemporaries of ancient civilizations. Krasnodar: Krasnodar Book Publishing House, 106–117 (in Russ.).

15. Bgazhnokov, B. Kh. (2013). Cup-shaped signs of Caucasian dolmens. In: Archeology and ethnology of the North Caucasus, 2, 7–32 (in Russ.).

16. Valganov, S. V. (2004). Dolmen of the Caucasus. Cult reconstruction. Moscow (in Russ.). 17. Markovin, V. I. (1978). Dolmen of the Western Caucasus. Moscow: Nauka Publ. (in Russ.).

17. Kudin, M. I. (2017). Calendar motifs in the ornament of dolmens. In: Caucasus and Abkhazia in antiquity and in the Middle Ages: interaction and continuity of cultures, 59–74 (in Russ.).