Aul

Type of fortified village or town in the Caucasus and Central Asia

An aul (lit. 'village') is a type of fortified village or town found throughout the Caucasus, Volga region and Central Asia. They are generally built out of stone, on faces of ridges or against cliffs in order to provide protection against surprise attacks. Houses are usually two stories high, and they are staggered to make it virtually impossible for enemies to get anywhere on the roads.

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