DERBENT, January 6 – RIA “Dagestan”. Derbent Museum-Reserve has commenced the museumification of Underground Reservoir No. 1, an 8th-century hydraulic structure hidden for over a millennium, with plans to open it to visitors by late 2026. Dating to the Arab Caliphate era, the reservoir predates Derbent’s better-known 10th–11th-century cistern by 200–300 years and was a key component of the city’s ancient gravity-fed water supply system. Measuring approximately 18 by 8 meters, it once channeled water from mountain sources through stone conduits to sustain entire neighborhoods.
According to Maria Amirova, Head of the Museum-Reserve’s Press Service, the project aims to restore the historical integrity of a structure that even the Arab commander Maslama prioritized upon capturing the city. Current work includes detailed research, structural reinforcement and the design of safe visitor access, alongside plans for lighting and multimedia installations. The initiative marks a significant expansion of Derbent’s preserved heritage beyond its iconic citadel, walls and mosques.