A directory of craftsmen has recently been released in Chechnya, aimed at popularization of traditional crafts. The traditional crafts of Chechnya are rich and exquisite. Chechen craftsmen created copper pitchers and weapons. Some items are decorated with crosses or swastikas.
Despite the two wars, Chechen crafts survived. Among the craftsmen of Chechnya there are Russians and Nogai as well as Vaynakhs. Such traditional crafts as carpet weaving, decorating cold weapons, traditional architecture, blacksmithery, jewelry, pottery and many more are developing in Chechnya. According to Ruslan Kizayev, a manager of the directory project, in the period 1970-1980 crafts developed rapidly, thanks to pedagogues and workers of cultural establishments. Nowadays, craftsmen hand down their skills to their apprentices. Many carpet craftsmen work in the Cossack settlement of Voskresenovskaya. Famous metal- and wood-master Gilani Usmanov hands down his skills to former “difficult” teens. Deaf-and-dumb Zoya Savchenko is one of them. Now, she is a famous artist.
Many towers were built in the 14th century. Nowadays, there is not a single crack on them, despite the fact that the territory of the republic is situated in a zone of high seismicity. It is known that, in the Middle ages, mortar was based on egg yolks and lime. The towers made it possible to notice enemies in advance. Recently, the authorities have launched a restoration project.
