Ruined Dolmens of the Caucasus

The ruined dolmens of the Caucasus are fragments of ancient megalithic structures scattered across villages and forests. In the Soviet Union dolmens were not recognized as architectural monuments, which led locals to dismantle them for foundations or fences. Some dolmens were pushed aside during road construction and left to be overgrown by bushes and soil. Today these ruins remind us of a lost culture and the need to preserve what remains.

Dolmens were destroyed throughout history. In the Soviet Union, dolmens were not recognized as architectural monuments. They were considered structures that belonged to nothing and were protected by no one. As a result, local residents dismantled them to use the stones for house foundations or to build fences. Some parts of dolmens, like the one shown in this photograph, still lie scattered right in the middle of villages. When tractor drivers built forest roads, the dolmens located there were simply pushed into piles, overgrown with bushes, and eventually covered with soil.

The dolmen you see in the video above is the result of vandalism. One man tried to make money, since dolmens in this area are tourist attractions, and he wanted to place it on his private commercial property to draw visitors. However, his actions were noticed and stopped by the authorities. Nevertheless, the dolmen he dismantled and destroyed still lies abandoned on the street.

And this video takes us 15 kilometers away from Pshada, to the village of Vozrozhdenie, where we see the remains of dolmens that today lie scattered and destroyed.

But in the village of Vozrozhdenie there are not only ruined dolmens — it is also home to an entire complex of well-preserved dolmens, each of which I have described in detail on this website.

Where are the ruined dolmens of the Caucasus located?

The ruined dolmens can be found near the village of Pshada and Vozrozhdenie in the Krasnodar region of Russia.

Why were many dolmens destroyed?

In the Soviet Union dolmens were not considered architectural monuments, so locals dismantled them for construction, and many were damaged during road building.

Are there still well-preserved dolmens?

Yes, in the village of Vozrozhdenie there is a whole complex of dolmens in good condition, open for visitors and researchers.