01 June 2003, 03:46
Rutuls (rutulets)
They call themselves mikh adbir. Nation living in the south of Dagestan (Rutul and Akhtin districts, main village is Rutul) and in Azerbaijan (Nukhin district). Their total population is 20 thousand people (1992). They belong to the Balkan-Caucasus race of the big European race. They speak Rutul, or Mukhad language of the Lezghin sub-group of the Nakh-Dagestan group of the North Caucasus family. Dialects: Mukhad, Shinaz, Mukhrek, Ikhrek, Borchin-Khnov. Azerbaijan and Russian languages are also common. Religious people are Moslems-sunnites.
Rutuls are the native population of Daghestan. The early period of Rutul history was mentioned in the epigraph monuments (kufic inscriptions of the 11-13th centuries on the constructions of the villages Ikhrek, Mikhrek, Amsar, Luchek etc.) In the 18th century on the territory of Rutuls there existed a union of village societies - Rutul magal with Rutul beks at the head. In 1839 it joined Russia.
Main traditional occupations - agriculture (mainly rye and wheat) and cattle-breeding (mainly sheep-breeding). Home trades - making broadcloth, carpets, felt, woolen footwear, hand-made ceramics, processing copper, stone etc.
The culture of Rutuls is close to that of Lezghins, they were also influenced by Azerbaijanians with whom they had long-term connections ( distant pasturing to Azerbaijan in winter time, travelling to practice trades).
