Atsanguars ("dwarf fences") are ancient structures made of small rough stones in the form of fences, often of an asymmetrical complex shape, sometimes with partitions, often with a large rock adjacent to the fence. Distributed in the alpine zone of the Western Caucasus from the Tuapse River basin in the north (separate structures) to Abkhazia inclusive, and mainly on the sea side of the mountains.
Atsanguars were often used later as cattle corrals, the basis for kosha, were repaired and completed. Therefore, the identification of the azanguar as an ancient structure is extremely difficult. Sometimes the azanguars are classified as megalithic structures.
According to the Abkhaz legend, these buildings belonged to the mythical Azan tribe, who previously inhabited these lands. Atsans are mythical dwarf creatures, according to legend, who inhabited mountainous Abkhazia in ancient times. According to legend, they were so small that they were not visible in the tall grass, climbed the ferns, like trees, and chopped off their leaves like twigs. The Atsans possessed great physical strength, were herders and hunters. They lived at a time when there was an eternal warm summer on the ground (note of the author: indeed, it is difficult to imagine why they should build permanent dwellings at such a height in an area where snow leaves only 2-3 months a year, and even during these months it is cold there in the evenings and nights), there was no death, no birth, no hunger, no cold, no disease. They built these stone structures in the mountains to shelter and house their numerous herds.
The ethnographer Ts. N. Bzhania assumed that these buildings were erected by the Abkhaz population of mountain gorges in the early Middle Ages. In the works of Professor Sh. D. Inal-ip, these buildings are also associated with the activities of ancient shepherds, however, he attributes the initial stage of their construction to a deeper antiquity and suggests that at that time, it is likely that some stunted tribes also inhabited Abkhazia, like the pygmies in Africa.
All of these researchers drew their conclusions based on a superficial examination of individual monuments. The very first archaeological excavations begun by Yu. N. Voronov in 1970, showed that neither the legends that exist among the people, nor the statements of scientists cited above, reveal the true meaning of these buildings. The studies carried out annually made it possible to identify and measure about 500 such "dwarf fences" over a vast area of several thousand square kilometers.
The main groups of atsanguar are located along the upper reaches of rivers and along the pass routes. An indispensable condition for their appearance was the proximity of water and forests, as well as the necessary building materials. The most significant building complexes were usually erected along the edge of natural accumulations and heaps of large and small fragments of rocks accumulating along the ridges under steep slopes and cliffs. The basis of each such complex is a residential stone structure - the "shepherd's house", which was a rectangular room with a usable area of 8 to 20 - 25 square meters with walls up to 1.5 - 2 meters thick and up to 1.5 meters high, with a narrow entrance, covered in antiquity with a gable or pitched roof. The Shepherd's House may stand alone, but it is often surrounded by various outbuildings and corrals,sometimes occupying a significant area - up to 1500 - 2000 square meters. In some cases, the Hazanguars form a whole village - “the city of dwarfs,” as it is popularly called.
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During the construction of residential premises, dry masonry was used - large fragments went into the facing, smaller ones formed the thickness of the wall. Inside the dwelling, the walls are usually strictly vertical; outside, for stability, they expand rather sharply towards the base. The entrances to the dwellings were laid out with a selection stone. There are no foundations in the azanguars; the walls were laid straight from the ground.
The walls of the outbuildings intended for storing food and implements and for keeping young animals were usually built less carefully from small debris, while the fences for livestock were rows of large debris, sometimes reaching 1.5 - 2 meters in height, which gives this the buildings have a very archaic, austere, truly legendary look.
Excavations in the Azanguars have revealed that the thickness of cultural deposits inside living quarters does not exceed 15 - 20 centimeters. Numerous ceramic fragments indicate the range of dishes used by ancient shepherds. These are pithos (large household vessels), one-handled jugs, bowls, kitchen pots of various sizes. Particularly widespread in the mountainous area was the so-called "cattle-breeding" dishes, which were made of clay with impurities (crushed limestone, shells, finely chopped straw, etc.) that were burnt out during firing. In this case, the walls of the vessels became porous, which caused an increased volatility of their contents and thereby contributed to the long-term storage of dairy products. All of these forms of products were widespread on the territory of Abkhazia in the early Middle Ages (VI - X centuries.) The iron knives, arrowheads, carving chairs for carving fire, nails and other finds found in the azanguars also point to the same general date, and from the bones found here, it was possible to restore the composition of the herds that were driven at that time in the summer from the valleys to the mountains - this is cows, goats, rams, horses, that is, everything that now forms the cultural fauna of the Abkhaz highlands.