Traditional handicrafts of Dagestan

Handicrafts and trade have always been a great assistance for the residents of mountainous Dagestan in their quest to survive.

The village of Kubachi in the district of Dahadaev is famous for its goldsmiths, who made marvelous swords and armour with encrustation and filigree. Now they are making souvenirs and dishes decorated with precious metals and elaborate patterns.

High quality Damascus steel is produced in the village of Amuzgi, in the same district, while the villagers of Kharbuk possess secrets of knife and pistol-making techniques. Now these techniques are being used to manufacture souvenir hunting knifes, whose blades are engraved with drawings depicting different animals. There are a lot of villages famous for their jewellers and shoemakers.

Beautiful patterns engraved by the craftsmen of Untsugul on pottery or wood or metal are also known in the Republic. Women of Dagestan are known for their great sewing techniques.

All this large cultural heritage is still preserved in Dagestan, so those who are interested in anthropology should be eager to visit this republic.

Musa Musaev, exclusively to VK