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Introduction. The article deals with the issue of Christian communities of different denominations to have resided in the city of Majar, the latter localized around Majar hillfort on the Kuma riverside. Christian cult objects have been discovered in the commercial and crafts quarter of the hillfort. Archaeological and written sources make it possible to identify certain groups of Christians — Orthodox, Catholic, and Gregorian (Armenian) ones — within the city’s population. Goals. The study aims to summarize data on Christians in Majar. Nowadays, there is archaeological evidence confirming Majar had been also inhabited by ethnic Russians and Armenians. Materials and methods. The work analyzes the First Sophia Chronicle, sources on Latin missionary activity in the Golden Horde published by Ph. Bruun, A. Malyshev, and R. Hautala, a 1774 map of the Caucasus compiled by Georg Treitel, and archaeological materials. The study employs a number of research methods, such as the historical/systemic, historical/comparative, and cartographic ones. Results. The year 1245 had witnessed earliest contacts between the papacy and the Mongol Empire. In 1260, relations between the Golden Horde and the Byzantine Empire were set up. And in 1267, Metropolitan Kirill II of Kiev received a jarlig from Khan Mengu-Timur. Rulers of the Golden Horde were seeking to achieve various domestic and foreign policy goals through the agenda of religious tolerance. Franciscan missions, parishes of the Alan Metropolitanate, Diocese of Sarai, and the Armenian Church were functioning across the early 14th-century North Caucasus. Some 16th–18th century written sources attest to the presence of a Christian temple within the hillfort of Majar. Materials published by Ph. Bruun, A. Malyshev, and R. Hautala provide evidence Majar and its neighborhood used to host several Franciscan missions throughout the 14th century. Christian cult objects (encolpion cross, copper icon) discovered in the territory of Majar’s trade and crafts quarter testify to that Orthodox Christians had also lived there and had a temple of their own. The Armenian cross-stone (khachkar) which had been part of a church and found at the ancient site suggests there may have been an Armenian community and an Armenian temple too. Conclusions. The available evidence of the presence of different Christian denominations in Majar insufficiently reveals their role in the city’s life. And it gets urgent to localize the Christian quarter at the ancient site of Majar. So, the search for archival materials and archaeological explorations of the site should be continued.

Introduction. The article presents insufficiently studied aspects of endeavors tackled by V. N. Tatishchev (1786–1750). His contribution to the study of antiquities in the Urals and Siberia is commonly accepted but his efforts on the research of Golden Horde monuments in the Lower Volga and North Caucasus were never decently appreciated. A prominent government official to have held different positions, he had been collecting materials for works on Russia’s history and geography since 1720. He made the preparation of maps (‘Landkarten’) and drawings to be a prerequisite for any historical research. Materials and methods. The study analyzes works by Vasily N. Tatishchev, his epistolary heritage, maps — both published and archival ones. The employed research methods include historical systemic, comparative and cartographic ones. Results. When holding the office of Astrakhan Governor from 1741 to 1745, he initiated a mapping of ruins of Golden Horde towns in the Lower Volga. In July of 1742, he arranged an expedition to Majar in the North Caucasus. The latter included engineering corps conductor A. Golokhvostov, painting apprentice M. Nekrasov, and twenty Cossacks. The participants made three drawings of Majar, several townscapes of Kizlyar and Braguny village which were sent by V. N. Tatishchev to Petersburg. In 1743, he requested the Senate to dispatch two land surveyors. S. Chichagov and S. Shchelkov arrived in the summer of 1744 to further prepare about seventy five maps including those of Greater and Minor Kabardia which were found and published in 2009 by E. Gusarova. The research materials of 1742 and 1744 were presented by Vasily N. Tatishchev in his Russian History that mentions the towns of Majar, Tatartup, and ‘Yulat’ (i.e. Julat located on the ancient site referred to as Nizhny Julat). Conclusions. The works of 1742 were pursuing purely scientific goals, while those of 1744 were to meet mainly operative needs. So, the available materials make it possible to recognize Vasily N. Tatishchev as an organizer of earliest explorations of Golden Horde monuments in the North Caucasus, such Majar, Nizhny Julat, and Verkhny Dzhulat (Tatartup). Vasily N. Tatishchev’s resignation from the office of Astrakhan Governor in 1745 suspended academic investigation of monuments in the Lower Volga and North Caucasus. It is necessary to continue the search of archival materials dealing with the topic.