Dagestan is located in the Northeastern corner of the Caucasus, and the many tribes including Kuba, Shirvan, Kuba, etc. are mostly Muslim. The specific districts are described separately. Dagestani carpets have long been famous for their strong geometric designs and vibrant, steadfast colors. Soviet industrialization, however, ruined the industry with chemical dyes, shoddy workmanship and corrupt management. Carpets in the true Dagestani tradition cannot be mass-produced. The Caucasian carpets are from the areas south, east and north of the mountain chain of the Caucasus. Carpets, made before 1925, can be divided into five groups namely; Kazak, Karabach, Sjirvan, Kuba and Dagestan carpets. The carpets from the Karabach area often have finer patterns and resemble Persian carpets. Outside these groupings there are also Gjandzja, Silé and Verni carpets. The significance of these beautiful carpets are their geometrical patterns, often with an imaginative and plentiful way of expression. Sometimes curvilinear animal and pattern figures occur in the carpets. The older Caucasian carpets are made with handspun yarns of wool as well as the warp, weft and pile. The natural colours are both clear and strong. Good wool quality and Turkish knots make the carpets durable and they have a good reputation. In newer carpets, made after 1925, the warp is of cotton, with syntethic colours that are bleached and fewer and simplified patterns are used. The carpets are fairly durable, but less interesting from an artistic point of view. The most common names on these carpets are Kazak, Derbent, Mikrach, Gendje, Erivan, Sjirvan and Akhty. In the pictures, you can see how carpets are made there (with no artificial colorants). It is a complicated, expensive and laborious process. It takes about two years to make one carpet like this. They gather herbals and roots, dry, grind and color them. When this is done they start making a carpet.
WARNING Travel to Dagestan is extremely dangerous and strongly discouraged, due to high criminal activity, frequent bombing and general lawlessness and crimes. Due to its neighbouring of Chechnya, Chechen terrorists often target Russia for bombings or for terrorist threats. If you are planning to visit Dagestan, consult to your embassy before you are planning a trip to this region.