Propped high at the peak of Mount Gamsutlmeer in Dagestan, Russia, this abandoned ancient village is one of the oldest settlements in the region. In the Gunibsky district of Dagestan lies Mount Gamsutlmeer, and at an altitude of roughly 4,600 feet (1,400 meters) above sea level resides the village of Gamsutl. Translated from the Avar (the majority ethnic group of the republic), Gamsutl means “at the foot of the kahn’s fortress,” leading many to assume that a local Khan chose this location to build his kingdom fortified from his enemies. Eventually,…
