THE RUBAS FORTIFICATION OF THE MID-SIXTH CENTURY: STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF THE WESTERN FACADE OF WALL 2
The Rubas Fortification is a complex of stone military-engineering structures, uncovered in 2014 in the lower reaches of the Rubas River, 20 km south-west of Derbent, near the village of Kommuna, Derbent district of the Republic of Dagestan. According to its functional purpose, this archaeological site belongs to a series of monumental defensive structures erected in the Caspian Passage (Eastern Caucasus) by the Sassanid Iran with the financial aid of Byzantium in the 5-6th centuries, and preventing nomadic tribes from raids in the countries of Transcaucasia and the Middle East. Typologically and chronologically (6th century), the Rubas defensive complex is similar to the stone fortifications of Derbent. Excavations in 2014, 2016-2018, 2020 on a compact section of the left bank of the Rubas River with an area of 300 sq.m. revealed six separate military-engineering structures connected to each other by construction joints. The central position of this complex is occupied by the main Wall 2, oriented in the meridian direction (NW-SE). It has been uncovered for 28 m, is in a transverse position relative to the riverbed of the Rubas River, directed from west to east. All other revealed structures are located in the immediate vicinity of Wall 2, to the west and east of it. Structurally, Wall 2 is distinguished by its monumentality. The author describes in detail the design features of the western facade of Wall 2 and determines the functional significance of each section of the wall. A comparative analysis of engineering solutions of both facades of Wall 2 was conducted, the functional orientation of complex design solutions of a defensive nature was determined. The research methodology comprises a detailed analysis of the technological methods for the construction of the western facade of Wall 2, the reasoning behind the presence of sections of different construction types and the determination of a conditioned connection between the nature of the masonry of this facade and the strength of the entire structure.