The sacred network of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. On the importance of archaeological and dendrological monuments

An important but insufficiently studied direction in the field of significant historical and archaeological monuments is dendrological monuments of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, which, in essence, form a sacred network. Sacred groves and individual trees, despite the urbanisation of the territories, are still preserved and continue to attract great attention of the population. The issue of sacred groves and individual trees has been repeatedly considered in various research articles, but the novelty of this study is that the objects under consideration are monuments in which the connection of material historical and archaeological sites and trees is obvious. The sacred groves and trees described by the first European travellers on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus are currently partially preserved. Unfortunately, the oak grove in Sochi on Mount Batareika is lost, which has been not only described, but also captured in sketches. The grove was a symbiosis of pagan and Christian beliefs since iron crosses revered by the highlanders hung on the branches of the trees. Presumably, these crosses are preserved from the Christian temple destroyed by time. In Sochi, on the sacred mountain of Bytkha near the Ubykhs, there is a patriarch linden. Ethnographic research scientifically confirms the worship of Bytkha. Archaeological evidence also shows this. The linden is located in the medieval settlement. De facto, at the moment, the location of the linden is a veneration of various ethnic groups. The situation in the Golovinka village is extremely interesting. There, on the right bank of the Shakh River, grows a giant tulip tree. Its height is more than 32 meters, and the trunk diameter at a height of 1.3 m from the ground is 2.88 meters. Despite conflicting studies, it should be noted that they all, despite disagreements, achieve and pursue the same goals: the preservation of historical and cultural heritage. By the example of the facts listed in the article, it becomes obvious that the monuments of the dendrological and at the same time historical and cultural heritage that have passed through the centuries have a pronounced sacred meaning. Despite the migration processes in the region and the changes in the ethnic composition of the population, these unique objects continue to remain relevant in strengthening intercultural, interethnic, and even interfaith communications.