Avars

*Population estimates for 1994

The Avars (self-designation Maarulal) live mostly in mountainous regions of Daghestan, partly on the plains, and in the north of Azerbaijan (Byelokan and Zakatal districts). They are representatives of the Balkan Caucasus group of the European race. They speak Avar Northern dialect, including Salavat and Hunzakh patoises; southern dialect, including Anchukh, Gidatlukh, Botlukh patoises are also widely spread, while the written language is based upon Russian script. We know about the Avars’ ancestors, who lived on the territory of their present day settlement, since the first centuries AD.

Cattle breeding (mainly sheep breeding), agriculture, and gardening were their traditional occupations. There were also the different trades such as weaving, production of felt, carpets, copper dishes, wooden emblements, leather processing, jewelry and blacksmith business.

Many traditional settlements, built on the mountains slops, had the form of a castle with battle towers. Stone houses with flat roofs were two- or rarely three-story; very often, the roof of a house served as a yard for another house. Many houses had a central supporting column, which was decorated with carvings. At present, the houses are mainly made of wood.

The traditional men’s clothing did not differ from the ones of other Daghestan peoples (trousers, a shirt, a beshmet, a cherkess coat, a sheepskin furcoat, astrakhan hat, and leather or felt footwear). The main elements of the women’s clothes were: a dress or a long shirt, trousers, headdress (chukhta) of various forms, multicolored shawls, sheepskin furcoat, and felt or knitted footwear. The clothes were frequently decorated with silver embroidery and silver adornments.

The Avars have highly developed folklore, which includes different lyric and epic legends, songs, fairy tales, and proverbs.

The Avars believers are of the Muslim-Sunnite faith.