Famous scientist, archaeologist and ethnographer, Ismail Musayevich Miziev (1940-1997) developed an original concept of the ancient history and ethnic culture of the Turkic peoples, devoting his life to the study of scientific problems of the medieval history of Balkars and Karachais. As a result of many years of archaeological expeditions, analysis of ethnographic, historical and linguistic sources, works of Russian and foreign authors, the scientist made a firm conviction that the Balkars and Karachais are autochthonous peoples of the Central Caucasus.