Legendary Lost Medieval City of Magas Discovered in Chechnya

Aerial view of the Mayrtup excavation site.

April

/ 2026

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A major archaeological breakthrough in southern Russia is capturing global attention. Researchers believe they have located the legendary lost medieval city of Magas, once the capital of the powerful Alanian state. The discovery was made in the Chechen Republic during excavations at the Mayrtup burial ground.

What began as a rescue archaeology project has evolved into a monumental find. The site spans 350 hectares, making it the largest known medieval settlement in the North Caucasus. The sheer scale, combined with artifacts like coins, suggests this was a major fortified urban center reports Arkeonews.

Researchers led by expedition head Vladimir Malashev noted the site aligns with historical descriptions of Magas.

"Mayrtupskoye is not just a settlement, but a fortified city, which corresponds well to where the city of Magas was located," Malashev told TASS.

Costume elements and jewelry from 6th-century AD burial complexes at Mayrtup. (Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences)

Tracing the Legendary City of Magas

Historical references to Magas date back to the 9th–11th centuries via Arab chroniclers like Ibn Rustah. These sources describe Magas as the capital of Alania, a powerful kingdom that dominated parts of the Caucasus.

Malashev stressed that the location coincides perfectly with these descriptions. If confirmed, this solves a long-standing historical mystery. For centuries, historians debated the exact location of Magas across the region.

However, none provided as compelling evidence as the Mayrtup complex. Malashev added that identifying the Mayrtup settlement as the capital of the Alans "seems the most reasonable and least controversial."

Costume elements and jewelry from 6th-century AD burial complexes at Mayrtup

Costume elements and jewelry from 6th-century AD burial complexes at Mayrtup. (Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences)

Layers of Alanian Civilization

Beyond its identification as Magas, the site offers a remarkable window into regional human settlement. Archaeologists report the area contains cultural layers spanning from the Chalcolithic (Copper Age) to the late medieval period.

The Alans were a nomadic Iranian-speaking people who rose to prominence between the 1st millennium BC and the medieval period. Known for their skilled cavalry and trade networks, they connected different regions culturally and economically.

At their height, the Alans established a powerful political entity in the North Caucasus, with Magas as their administrative center. Archaeologists established that in the sixth century, the Mayrtup site was an Alan necropolis, upon which the large settlement later grew.

Rewriting the History of the Caucasus

Identifying its capital could deepen our understanding of medieval geopolitics across Eurasia. The eventual destruction of Magas is ascribed to Batu Khan, a Mongol leader, in 1239.

Moreover, the find could reshape the historical narrative of Chechnya, filling gaps where written records are limited. Interestingly, the name lives on in Magas, the modern capital of Ingushetia.

Archaeologists plan to continue their work using advanced dating techniques. If confirmed, the discovery could become one of the most important archaeological breakthroughs in Russia in recent years.

Top image: Aerial view of the Mayrtup excavation site. Source: Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

By Gary Manners