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The Genoese Gazaria and the Golden Horde Cover Image

Генуэзская Газария и Золотая Орда
The Genoese Gazaria and the Golden Horde

In memory of German Fyodorov-Davydov

Contributor(s): Sergei Gennadievich Bocharov (Editor), Ayrat G. Sitdikov (Editor)
Subject(s): History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries, 15th Century
Published by: Издательский дом Stratum, Университет «Высшая антропологическая школа»
Keywords: Glazed Pottery; Mediterrean; Black Sea; Middle Ages; history; archeology; ethnography; museology; glazed dishes;
Summary/Abstract: The second volume of academic papers “The Genoese Gazaria and the Golden Horde” is dedicated to the memory of an outstanding scholar, archaeologist, historian and numismatic, founder of the Russian School of Golden Horde archaeology, Professor of Moscow State University G. A. Fedorov-Davydov.By this volume, we wanted to address a few key issues raised in historical and archaeological studies of Byzantium, Genoese Gazaria and Golden Horde. Issue number one: we want to demonstrate possibilities for integration of different types of sources while studying broad historical problems through archaeological methods; number two — searching new ways to elucidation and understanding of different narratives of Eurasian medieval history through material culture; and number three — identification of specific features in material manifestations of vital activities by states, as a whole, and by their local regions, in particular.The articles collected in the second volume mainly address historical, geographical and archaeological studies of the vast Mongol Empire, which functioned across Eurasia in 12th—14th centuries. Having appeared in the 12th century, it then got divided into a number of new states, which, in their turn, were to cardinally change the political map of the Old World.

Series: Археологические источники Восточной Европы

  • E-ISBN-13: 978-9975-3343-0-3
  • Print-ISBN-13: 978-9975-3198-8-1
  • Page Count: 807
  • Publication Year: 2019
  • Language: English, Russian
Предисловие

Предисловие
(Foreword)

  • Author(s):Sergei Gennadievich Bocharov, Ayrat G. Sitdikov
  • Language:English, Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology
  • Page Range:15-18
  • No. of Pages:4
Архитектура жилых дворцовых сооружений Верхней столицы чжурчжэньского государства Восточное Ся

Архитектура жилых дворцовых сооружений Верхней столицы чжурчжэньского государства Восточное Ся
(Architecture of Palatial Residential Premises in the Upper Capital City of the Jurchen State — the Eastern Xia)

  • Author(s):Nadezda G. Artemieva
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Architecture, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries, History of Art
  • Page Range:21-32
  • No. of Pages:12
  • Keywords:Far East of Russia; Jurchen; Eastern Xia State; architecture; capital city; columns; tiles; bricks; blazonry
  • Summary/Abstract:The archeological excavations of the walled towns dated back to the period of the Jurchens’ State — the Eastern Xia (1215—1233) — have been conducted on the territory of Primorye for about fifty years. Archeologists have already found more than five hundreds of different types of buildings, including living units, household buildings, administrative and palatial constructions. The Jurchen people used three architectural technologies: column-frame technique, pillar-supported system and a column method. The construction technology helps to determine type and functions of the building. Column-supported buildings with tiled roof were classified as palaces. Some of the palatial residential premises that were excavated on the territory of the Upper Capital City of the Eastern Xia State (Krasny Yar fort) were constructed with use of column and pillars — this type of architectural technology was previously unknown for the researchers. Although the Jurchen architecture was developing within the mainstream Far Eastern architectural tradition, it had their own specific architectural style within the framework of that tradition.
Очерки истории селадонов

Очерки истории селадонов
(Essays on the History of Celadons)

  • Author(s):Evgeniia I. Gelman
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, History of Art
  • Page Range:33-51
  • No. of Pages:19
  • Keywords:China; Korean peninsula; celadons; proto-porcelain; stone and semi-porcelain wares; slip; glaze
  • Summary/Abstract:The article deals with the history of the origin and the main stages of development of celadon what is one of the most remarkable inventions of mankind in the field of ceramic production. The path to the highest heyday of this sort of high-firing ceramics took about 2000 years. Kilns and workshops for their production functioned in North and South China, as well as in the Korean Peninsula. Special raw materials became a necessary condition for their appearance, and potter’s craftsmanship, experience and technical thought turned them into real masterpieces in the 8th—13th c.Ceramic wares with green glaze were spreading along the trade routes to the countries of East and South-East Asia, through Central Asia and the Middle East reached Africa during the Middle Ages. New archaeological discoveries in different regions of Eurasia are constantly expanding the geography of their distribution. After the discovery of celadons in Europe in the 17th c. interest in the technology of their production is constantly growing, and research methods are being improved.
Позднесредневековые памятники Приморья

Позднесредневековые памятники Приморья
(Late Medieval Archaeological Sites of Primorye)

  • Author(s):Olga V. Dyakova
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:53-67
  • No. of Pages:15
  • Keywords:Russian Far East; Primorye; Jurchen; Eastern Xia; Mongol; Yuan; sites; fortified settlements; dating; glass
  • Summary/Abstract:The author analyzes materials of Jurchen forts in the mountains of Eastern Xia (1215—1234), and settlements and industrial complexes of Jin Empire (1115—1234). The study aims to discover whether they could function during the Mongol time, i.e. after the official defeat of these states by the Mongols. The Mongol time is defined by such archaeological indicators as innovative artisan artefacts and technologies, which appear on archaeological sites in Primorye after the fall of Jurchen states, but are typical for the Karakorum craft centers. One of such indicators is a glass-blowing production of the Eastern Xia state. Works were conducted on imported raw materials, whose chemical composition fully coincides with the raw materials from Karakorum. Due to the difficulties in Jurchen-Mongol relations, trade and economic contacts between them practically did not exist. Therefore, the emergence of traditional Karakoram artisan materials could arise only after the defeat of Jurchen Jin Empire in 1234 by the Mongols. At the same time, as the research showed, the craft centers of mountain forts in Eastern Xia continued to function also during the Mongol time, which is also confirmed by radiocarbon data. These facts made serious corrections to the military, political and economic history of the Far Eastern region during the Mongol time.
Монгольский могильник середины XIII — начала XV вв. Окошки 1 в Юго-Восточном Забайкалье: конструктивные и антропологические аспекты

Монгольский могильник середины XIII — начала XV вв. Окошки 1 в Юго-Восточном Забайкалье: конструктивные и антропологические аспекты
(The Mongol Cemetery of the Mid-13th — Early 15th Centuries Okoshki 1 in the South-Eastern Transbaikalia: constructive and anthropological aspects)

  • Author(s):Artur V. Kharinsky, Marina P. Rykun, Evgeny V. Kovychev, Nikolay Nikolaevich Kradin
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Social history, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:69-106
  • No. of Pages:38
  • Keywords:Mongol Empire; Mongols; Transbaikalia; funerary ritual; gravestone; grave pit; human remains
  • Summary/Abstract:The cemetery Okoshki 1 is located in South-Eastern Transbaikalia, in the valley of the Urulyunguy river. Majority of these burials belong to the middle of the 13th — the beginning of the 15th centuries. The Khirkhira town, located at the distance of 1.5 km to the south-east of the cemetery Okoshki 1, is dated by the same time. For several decades, Okoshki 1 was the cemetery for the residents of this ancient town founded by Yesünggü, a nephew of Genghis Khan. The people buried on the cemetery belong to different social groups. Their burials differ by the form of tumulus, grave chambers and sizes of grave pits. The largest funerary structures are found in the south-western part of the burial ground and are represented by ground barrows with a diameter of 11—14 m and 0.7—1.2 m high. Stone barrows with a diameter of 4.7—6.0 m and 0.3—0.4 m high are localized in south-western and central parts of the burial ground. Flat stone structures, 2—8 m in diameter, are located in the central and south-eastern parts of the necropolis. So far, Okoshki 1 yielded 14 Mongol burials of the imperial period. All examined skulls typically belong to the Central Asian anthropological type. Judging by features of the funerary ritual and anthropological data, the people of lower social status, those who worked hard, were buried in the north-eastern part of the cemetery, while the south-western part of the necropolis was reserved for the elite.
Раскопки Хирхиринского городища в Юго-Восточном Забайкалье

Раскопки Хирхиринского городища в Юго-Восточном Забайкалье
(Excavations of Khirkhira Town in South-Eastern Transbaikalia)

  • Author(s):Nikolay Nikolaevich Kradin, Svetlana E. Baksheeva, Evgeny V. Kovychev, Stanislav D. Prokopets, Artur V. Kharinsky
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:107-130
  • No. of Pages:24
  • Keywords:Mongol Empire; Khirkhira town; nomadic urbanization; Genghis Khan; Qasar; Yesünggü
  • Summary/Abstract:Khirkhira site is a town of Mongol Empire period, located in Transbaikalia. It was used as a residence for Yesünggü, a nephew of Genghis Khan. It was a real town with a palace, elite homesteads, over a hundred dwellings, but without fortifications. This site was excavated by S. Kiselev in 1957—1959 and A. Artemjev in 1997—2005. The article discusses the results of excavations on one of the homesteads. The wooden pillars of the building rested on stone bases. There was a kang (heating system) inside of the building with traces of reconstructions. The kang was heated by two hearths situated in northern and western parts of the excavated area. Our studies on Khirkhira allowed revisiting the chronology of the site. Porcelain found there makes it possible to date this site not only by the time of its founder Yesünggü Khan’s life, but also by the period of Yuan Dynasty (1206—1368) in 14th century. Besides, Khitan ceramics found in lower horizons of the unearthed homestead makes us conclude that this territory was inhabited already at the time of Liao dynasty (907—1125).
Наконечники стрел населения Нижнего Приангарья в развитом средневековье

Наконечники стрел населения Нижнего Приангарья в развитом средневековье
(Arrowheads of the Lower Angara Region Population in the High Middle Ages)

  • Author(s):Polina O. Senotrusova, Pavel V. Mandryka
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, 6th to 12th Centuries, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:131-144
  • No. of Pages:14
  • Keywords:Siberia; Lower Angara region; High Middle Ages; typology; arms;arrowheads;
  • Summary/Abstract:The paper presents the results of the data analysis related to arrowheads from the High Middle Ages found in the Lower Angara region. Arrowheads made of iron or, sometimes, horn were classified into 25 types, with bigger and flatter objects being prevalent. Other types include those widely spread in Eurasian Steppe during the Mongol and Pre-Mongol time (flat rhombic, oval- winged arrowheads, cutaways). Several types of the arrowheads from the Lower Angara region are similar to those found in the Taiga Zone of the Western Siberia (bifurcate, cutaways in the form of a shovel, chisel and tetrahedral objects, warheads). Archers from the Lower Angara region used arrowheads with tenons, large armor-piercing objects and arrowheads with decor. The arrowheads represent taiga forms and steppe types. All the objects were used by the same community and belong to Lesosibirsk archaeological culture of the High Middle Ages.
Средний Енисей в монгольское время

Средний Енисей в монгольское время
(Middle Yenisei Region in the Mongol Time)

  • Author(s):Sergey G. Skobelev, Anton V. Vybornov
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:145-156
  • No. of Pages:12
  • Keywords:Southern Siberia; Middle Yenisei; Khakassia-Minusinsk Hollow; Mongol Empire; Kyrgyz Khaganate; Mongol time; Late Middle Ages; written sources; funerary rite;material culture;
  • Summary/Abstract:The current body of knowledge is presented on the history of the Middle Yenisei population in the Late Middle Ages, including a compilation of written sources on the history of Southern Siberia of the Mongol time. The Kyrgyz Khaganate, one of the earliest state formations on the territory of Russia, was the target of the first major conquest of the Mongol army. Later on, the territory and population of the Khaganate were split among different states emerging on the ruins of the Mongol Empire. In this regard, this work combines and analyzes heterogeneous sources for the Late Middle Ages of the Khakassia-Minusinsk Hollow and the adjacent territories, including archaeological ones. The authors describe characteristic topography and planning of burial grounds with cremations and inhumations. The grave goods, on the one hand, are as versatile as the complex of artefacts common for all ethnic groups exposed to the Mongol influence, and on the other hand, they have a strong technological and aesthetic identity of predominantly metal products, which are inherent for the peoples of the Southern Siberia.
Археологические признаки государственного межевания. Методическое значение южносибирской медиевистики

Археологические признаки государственного межевания. Методическое значение южносибирской медиевистики
(Archaeological Signs of State Land Surveying. Methodological Value of the South Siberian Medieval Archaeology)

  • Author(s):Igor L. Kyzlasov
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Geography, Regional studies, Historical Geography, Middle Ages, 6th to 12th Centuries, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:157-177
  • No. of Pages:21
  • Keywords:Southern Siberia; Turkic khaganate; Uigur khaganate; Old Khakass state; Mongol Empire; borders; sculptures; fortresses; barrows; tamgas; runiform inscriptions
  • Summary/Abstract:Archaeological and epigraphic sources allow to reveal external (state) and internal (administrative) borders between countries of the South Siberian region in the 6th—14th centuries. So, funerary sites with some Turkic sculptures, well distinguishable from similar objects of other Turkic people, seem to be an indicator of external borders of the First and Second East Turkic khaganates. Where they are absent, there was no Turkic domination. The northern border of the Uigur khaganate is noted by pise-walled fortresses and a 230 km long wall that connects them. Old Khakassia stone fortresses protecting passes in Western Sayan Mountains also show that borders of this country passed across ridges. But with expansion of the country from the second half of 9th century, the rivers became borders. It is evidenced by placement of military cemeteries of the ancient Khakass found on only the right coast of the Irtysh River. Two Mongol towns which had typical buildings for the Mongols, appear to be centers of two administrative districts. The old Khakassia family and personal heraldry is familiar to a series 9—10th centuries connected with marks in epitaphs and rocks, specified hereditary land use, outlining borders of possessions in Tuva and in Khakassia.
Древнемонгольские города Тувы: обзор современного состояния

Древнемонгольские города Тувы: обзор современного состояния
(Towns of the Early Mongol Time in Tuva: overview of the current state)

  • Author(s):Demir K. Tulush
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:179-183
  • No. of Pages:5
  • Keywords:Tuva; Mongol time; ancient settlement; town; Mogay; Mezhegey; Don-Terek; Elegest; Ertine-Bulak; Oymak
  • Summary/Abstract:In the middle of the 20th century, Soviet archaeologist L. Kyzlasov identified 6 towns in the territory of Tuva and dated them by Mongol time. Most of them are located in Tandy district. This article is empirically based on L. Kyzlasov’s studies conducted in the 50—60s of the 20th century, materials of the archaeological field surveys carried out by the author in cooperation with the Institute for Mongol, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science (2011), as well as independently (2013, 2016, 2017). Visual surveys allowed to fix an unsatisfactory condition of ancient settlements exposed to destructive human activity. Some sites (Ertine-Bulak, the Elegest town) seem to be totally destroyed. Insufficient data on Oymak town in Ulug-Khem district did not allow its repeated localization. The best preserved town — Mezhegey — requires more attention and further research.
Археологические памятники монгольского времени на юге Западной Сибири и Алтае: результаты исследований и опыт интерпретации

Археологические памятники монгольского времени на юге Западной Сибири и Алтае: результаты исследований и опыт интерпретации
(Archaeological Sites of Mongol Time in the South of Western Siberia and Altai: research results and interpretation experience)

  • Author(s):Alexey A. Tishkin
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:185-198
  • No. of Pages:14
  • Keywords:south of Western Siberia; Altai; Mongol time; archaeological sites; ethnocultural reconstruction; Basandaiskaya culture; Karmatskaya culture
  • Summary/Abstract:The study of the archaeological sites of Mongol time in the south of Western Siberia has its long history. By now, almost all previously received materials have been offered for scientific discussion. However, they are not yet widely in demand by specialists researching the period of the developed Middle Ages in Russia and abroad. This situation can be explained, to a certain extent, by the fact that the region in question was far from the places of the most important historical events described in written sources. At the same time, archaeological sites studied in the Upper Ob area and Altai reflect many processes of military, political and cultural interaction of different population groups in the 13th—14th centuries and form the information field for understanding the ethnogenesis of modern Siberian peoples. The article describes the experience of studies and interpretation of all archaeological data obtained in the south of Western Siberia and related to a difficult period in the medieval history of Asia, known as the Mongol time. Particularly, it concerns the reconstruction of the ethno-cultural situation, which is demonstrated in this article for the first time.
Город Тара и его роль в судьбе сибирских татар в XVII веке

Город Тара и его роль в судьбе сибирских татар в XVII веке
(The Town of Tara and its Role in the Fate of the Siberian Tatars in the 17th Century)

  • Author(s):Sergey F. Tataurov
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Modern Age, 17th Century
  • Page Range:199-205
  • No. of Pages:7
  • Keywords:Siberian Khanate; Irtysh basin; town of Tara; Kuchum Khan; ethnic genesis; trade;history;
  • Summary/Abstract:In this work we are talking about the Russian town of Tara founded at the Irtysh River in 1594, and its role in the fate of the Siberian Tatars, who were citizens of the Siberian Khanate and at the end of the 16th century became citizens of the Russian state. The town, established only to ensure the ultimate defeat of Kuchum Khan, began to play a very significant role in consolidation of the Siberian Tatars, unexpectedly for the Tara voivodes. The Muslim community, which emerged under the leadership of one of the first Islamic preachers in Siberia — Din-aul-khojah, turned into the center disseminating Islam among all Turkic-speaking population of the Western Siberia. Trade ways, passing through the Irtysh region near Tara, were not closed upon the emergence of the Russian town, and, what is more, they turned it into a key point in Siberian trade with Central Asia, and later with China. For a long time, the Irtysh area near Tara remained a stronghold of Kuchum Khan and his successors and, contrary to all actions of the local Russian administration, the town of Tara became a source for the replenishment of weapons and supplies for the Kuchum’s troops. These interesting pages in the history of one of the first Russian towns in Siberia are addressed in this article.
Христианское кладбище монгольского времени на городище Бурана (по данным архивных документов о раскопках 1886 года)

Христианское кладбище монгольского времени на городище Бурана (по данным архивных документов о раскопках 1886 года)
(Christian Cemetery of Mongol Time at Burana Town: according to archival documents on excavations in 1886)

  • Author(s):Valerii A. Kolchenko
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Cultural history, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:209-221
  • No. of Pages:13
  • Keywords:Western Tien-Shan; Chui valley; Mongolian time; Burana town; Christian necropolis; types of grave constructions
  • Summary/Abstract:In 1885, two Christian medieval cemeteries were opened in the north of present-day Kyrgyzstan, in the Chuy Valley. They were identified from the finds of gravestones with Syrian epitaphs. Soon the epitaphs were translated and published by D. Khvolson and S. Slutsky. Archaeological excavations were carried out on the necropolis of Buranа town, in 1885—1886, but the data from these studies were not published. They are stored in the Archive of the RAS Institute of History of Material Culture, among documents of the Imperial Archaeological Committee.Data on the excavations in late 19th century on the medieval cemetery near the settlement of Burana are cited and analyzed in this article. Most of the burials were made in pits. The second largest group is the burial in the pits with niches. All the deceased lay stretched on their backs heading west. The burials contained no grave goods, but sometimes they contain personal adornments or wearable crosses.At the end of the article, the burials from Burana Christian cemetery are compared with the burials from the necropolises of Ak-Beshim, Krasnaya Rechka and Belovodskaya fortresses, also located in the Chuy Valley. By comparing them, we come to conclusion about a break in development of Christianity in the Chuy Valley, and emergence of a new cultural tradition, associated with gravestones with epitaphs, at the beginning of 13th century.
Западный Казахстан в XIII—XIV вв. Историко-географическая ситуация

Западный Казахстан в XIII—XIV вв. Историко-географическая ситуация
(Western Kazakhstan in 13th—14th Centuries. Historical and Geographical Situation)

  • Author(s):Arman A. Bissembayev
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Geography, Regional studies, Historical Geography, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:223-236
  • No. of Pages:14
  • Keywords:Western Kazakhstan; Golden Horde; archaeological sites; natural and geographical conditions;history of research;
  • Summary/Abstract:The author reviews the current state of studies into Western Kazakhstan sites dated by 13th—14th centuries. The area under research is predominantly represented by sites belonging to the nomadic population of the Golden Horde. The paper describes features of historical and geographical location of funerary sites in Western Kazakhstan. Overall, the archaeological sites identified in Western Kazakhstan are a reflection of some general processes in Eurasian steppes generated by appearance of the consolidated Mongol state, and later by the Golden Horde, and manifested in the uniformity of features of material culture.
Топография и хронология средневековых поселений западных регионов Казахстана

Топография и хронология средневековых поселений западных регионов Казахстана
(Topography and Chronology of Medieval Settlements in Western Regions of Kazakhstan)

  • Author(s):Murat D. Kalmenov, Aliya E. Bizhanova
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 6th to 12th Centuries, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:237-261
  • No. of Pages:25
  • Keywords:Western Kazakhstan; towns; Kyzylkala; Ketikkala; Zhaiyk; Aktobe-Laeti; Saraishyk; fortification; dwellings; production complexes; cemeteries
  • Summary/Abstract:The authors present a discussion on medieval settlements located in Western Kazakhstan: Kyzylkala, Ketikkala, Saraishyk, Aktobe-Laeti and Zhaiyk towns. They relate in general to the period of the 10th—14th centuries, although some of them also existed later (Saraishyk). Problems of historiography and formation of medieval urban culture, economic ties with other regions, as well as historical topography of sites based on archaeological research are discussed. Fortification of settlements, residential and farm buildings, main features of funerary rite practiced on the associated necropolises are considered.
Новые исследования на золотоордынских поселениях Западного Казахстана

Новые исследования на золотоордынских поселениях Западного Казахстана
(New Research in the Golden Horde Settlements of Western Kazakhstan)

  • Author(s):Emma D. Zilivinskaya
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:263-286
  • No. of Pages:24
  • Keywords:Western Kazakhstan; Middle Ages; Golden Horde; settlements; manors; mosques; mausoleums; production complexes
  • Summary/Abstract:The article deals with the results of work on the ancient towns of Zhaiyk and Zhalpaktal in Western Kazakhstan. The ancient settlement of Zhaiyk is located not far from the city of Uralsk. Since 2000, there have been studied large estates, a public bath with underground heating and production complexes: an oven for baking brick and a furnace for calcining lime. Two large mausoleums of burnt bricks, decorated with glazed tiles, were found on the necropolis. In 2013, a funerary complex consisting of a tower mausoleum and small funerary structures were excavated on the necropolis.A small rural mosque with a minaret was investigated at the settlement of Zhalpaktal. Excavations of a large farmstead showed that life on the settlement lasted long enough. First, pit-houses were used for dwelling. Later, a large house with many rooms and walls of raw brick was built in their place.
К вопросу о русско-ордынском пограничье в Марийско-Чувашском Поволжье

К вопросу о русско-ордынском пограничье в Марийско-Чувашском Поволжье
(To the Question about the Russia-Golden Horde Borderlands in Mari-Chuvash Area of the Volga Region)

  • Author(s):Elena E. Vorobeva, Mikhail I. Fedulov
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:289-295
  • No. of Pages:7
  • Keywords:Mari-Chuvash area of the Volga region; topography; landscape; fortified settlement; ceramics; buffer zones; Russian-Golden Horde borderlands
  • Summary/Abstract:Now one of the main directions of the national historical science is a detailed study of the history of individual regions, suburbs, territories of the Russian-Horde border. Some of the areas are of particular interest to any student of the Russian-Golden Horde borderlands: these areas can be called buffer zones. They are described by travelers, recorded in chronicles and confirmed by archaeological materials. The Chuvash-Mari area of the Volga region played the role of such “buffer zone” at the Russian-Golden Horde border in 14th—15th centuries. The archaeological material accumulated to date (the results of exploration and excavations in the territory of the Mari-Chuvash Volga region) not only confirms the process of expanding the territory of the influence of the Golden Horde state over the studied territory, but also allows us to consistently trace this process, highlighting several conventional regions with concentrations of archaeological sites dated by the studied period. In this regard, the purpose of the article is to consider the presence of buffer zones at the Russian — Golden Horde border in the Mari-Chuvash Volga region on the basis of archaeological data.
Усадьбы золотоордынского Болгара

Усадьбы золотоордынского Болгара
(Homesteads of the Golden Horde Bolgar)

  • Author(s):Denis Yu. Badeev
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Social history, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:297-306
  • No. of Pages:10
  • Keywords:Volga Bulgaria; Golden Horde period; medieval town; layout; homestead
  • Summary/Abstract:Long-term complex archaeological work allowed to study a considerable area (2516 sq. m) in the central part of the Bolgar town of the Golden Horde period (100—160 m to the south-east from the Cathedral Mosque). Here, the remains of the unique monumental structure of the city bazaar (the middle of the 14th century) were discovered and studied. An important result of the work was the allocation of additional horizons in the strata of the Golden Horde layer of the 14th century, which makes it possible to date the objects associated with them with an accuracy of up to 30 years. Based on the analysis of the location of synchronous ground and buried objects, an attempt has been made to determine the boundaries of individual homesteads. The nature of the finds from the territory of the investigated complex of homesteads testifies that during the entire 14th century, an active handicraft activity was carried out related to copper-foundry, glass-working, jewelry, and also accompanying bone-carving production. During the existence of a city bazaar in the given territory (50—70s years of the 14th century), the activities of the inhabitants of the homesteads under consideration could be connected with the implementation of trade, as indicated by the numerous finds of merchandise inventory: plummets, elements of weights. An analysis of the density of buildings and the size of the established estates suggests that the area of the estates in the central part of the Golden Horde Bolgar decreased during the first half of the 14th century, and only the destructive events of the feudal war period stopped this trend.
Фортификация Болгара в XIV в.: современное состояние проблемы

Фортификация Болгара в XIV в.: современное состояние проблемы
(Fortification of Bolgar Town in the 14th Century: the current state of the problem)

  • Author(s):Vladimir Yu. Koval
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Military history, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:307-323
  • No. of Pages:17
  • Keywords:Middle Volga region; Bolgar town; rampart; moat; wooden walls; towers; city defense strategy
  • Summary/Abstract:The article reviews published materials and hypotheses concerning the fortification of Bolgar town in the 14th century, in the era of its heyday and reaching the maximum area. The hypotheses were verified based on the data obtained during excavations in 2014—2015. It is shown that the archaeological realities documented in the excavation reports do not match with O. Khovanskaya and Yu. Krasnov’s hypotheses on a buttress wall (or a cellular wall, ‘tarasa’) placed on the crest of the rampart and existence of pillar-basedtowers. In reality, during the excavations of 1946, 1953 and 1967, only irregular traces of pillar pits of different depths were discovered. Such traces could be left by a light fence supported by some separate pillars. Pillar-based towers in the Russian medieval fortifications are not known, because they would represent very fragile structures, vulnerable to stone-hurling artillery. It was suggested that the found pillar pits could be traces of some household structures of a Russian village dated by 17th—20th centuries. Defensive structures on the top of the rampart could consist of a light wooden fence without any towers. Some attempts are made to explain the difference between the Russian and Bolgar urban defense strategies. While the Russian strategy was based on use of vertical barriers (wood-earth walls), the Bolgar strategy was based on the construction of ramparts to prevent cavalry attacks on the town. Such ramparts were defended by cavalry detachments moving inside the town walls.
Этногеография Булгарской области Золотой Орды (по археологическим материалам)

Этногеография Булгарской области Золотой Орды (по археологическим материалам)
(Ethnogeography of the Bulgar Region of the Golden Horde by Archaeological Sources)

  • Author(s):Konstantin Aleksandrovich Rudenko
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Historical Geography, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:325-378
  • No. of Pages:54
  • Keywords:Middle Volga Region; Volga Bulgaria; Golden Horde period; historical geography; ethnic composition
  • Summary/Abstract:The paper discusses peoples who lived on the territory of Bulgar Ulus of the Golden Horde in 13th—14th centuries, which can be proven by archaeological sources. Thus, these data suggest that along with the Bulgar this territory was populated by the Russians, Mordvins, Mari, Armenians, and part of this territory was occupied by the Kipchaks and, probably, by the Mongols, who settled there after their military raids. All these peoples closely interacted between themselves. At the same time, there were also some small local ethnic groups, such as the Permians and the Udmurts, who managed to preserve their identity. As a whole, Bulgar Ulus of the Golden Horde was multiethnic, which continued the tradition formed before the Mongol invasion.
Золотоордынский Биляр

Золотоордынский Биляр
(The Golden Horde Bilyar)

  • Author(s):Svetlana I. Valiulina
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:379-412
  • No. of Pages:34
  • Keywords:Golden Horde; Bilyar town; Golden Horde Bilyar; 1240s — middle of the 14th century; material culture; ceramics
  • Summary/Abstract:The article presents the results of the first studies on one of the early Mongol towns in Eastern Europe — the Golden Horde Bilyar. Rescue excavations on the site were carried out by the expedition of Kazan State University in 1994—1998. The researchers established that the town originated from scratch, almost out of touch with the pre-Mongol cultural tradition. The rich material culture of the site illustrates the initial stage in cultural development of the Golden Horde in the Middle Volga region, and its main ethno-cultural components based on pottery and stucco ceramics. Highly artistic works illustrate the conquerors’ progress into the Middle Volga area. Products by masters from Central Asia and the Middle East, together with numismatics data, specify the period of existence of this town: 1240s — first half of the 14th century.
Кузькинский мордовский могильник конца XIII—XIV в.: к истории населения правобережья Самарского Поволжья в эпоху Золотой Орды

Кузькинский мордовский могильник конца XIII—XIV в.: к истории населения правобережья Самарского Поволжья в эпоху Золотой Орды
(Kuzkino Mordovian Burial Ground of the Late 13th—14th Centuries: toward the history of the population of the right bank of the Samara Volga region in the Golden Horde era)

  • Author(s):Dmitriy A. Stashenkov
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:413-432
  • No. of Pages:20
  • Keywords:Middle Volga; Golden Horde; Mordovian; burial ground; funerary rite
  • Summary/Abstract:The article addresses studies on the burial ground of the late 13th—14th century in the Volga region near Samara. The funerary rite and objects from 16 burials find analogies in the Muranka, Barbashinsky, and Usinsky burial grounds, associated mainly with the Mordovian groups. The appearance of large Mordovian burial grounds in the Middle Volga region is conditioned by the policy of economic development of the Volga region, pursued by the Golden Horde administration. The chronological framework of the archaeological objects studied in the region with the Mordovian ethno-cultural component — late 13th — middle of the 14th centuries. There is no evidence to support the existence of these sites after 1360s — the beginning of the “Great troubles” period in the Horde.
Арабографичные надписные камни из раскопок Казанского кремля 2000-х гг.

Арабографичные надписные камни из раскопок Казанского кремля 2000-х гг.
(Stones with Arabic Inscriptions from the Excavations in Kazan Kremlin in 2000s)

  • Author(s):Aydar M. Gaynutdinov, Ayrat G. Sitdikov, Аndrey S. Starkov
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Cultural history, Modern Age, 16th Century
  • Page Range:433-440
  • No. of Pages:8
  • Keywords:Kazan; 16th century; Islam; Khanate; Kremlin; Arabic epigraphic
  • Summary/Abstract:Medieval epigraphs written in Arabic and found in the Middle Volga region provide some very important historical evidence for any student of the regional history. For they preserved an important page of the medieval written culture. The authors address a corpus of Arabic inscriptions made on stones in the first half of the 16th century, identified during the excavations on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin in the early 2000s. Fragments of stones stored in the Museum of Archaeology (Institute of Archaeology, Academy of Sciences, Republic of Tatarstan) contain some fragments of texts in Arabic, including fragments of words and some separate letters. The paper describes the context in which these inscriptions were revealed and offers a reading of the texts on stones. Specific usages of these stones are suggested. Some fragments could be architectural elements.
Религиозный и этнический состав населения Укека. К вопросу об этноконфессиональной топографии городища

Религиозный и этнический состав населения Укека. К вопросу об этноконфессиональной топографии городища
(Religious and Ethnic Compositions of the Ukek Population. To the issue of the ethnic-confessional topography of the town)

  • Author(s):Dmitry A. Kubankin
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:443-462
  • No. of Pages:20
  • Keywords:Volga Region; Ukek; Golden Horde town; Christians; Muslims; pagans; Russians; Mordovians; Italians; necropolises; churches; mausoleums; bath-houses; amulets; ongons; ceramics; seals
  • Summary/Abstract:Multinational population of the Golden Horde towns used to practice various religions. To a certain extent, this diversity may be traced in the material culture of Ukek. Islamic necropolises and occasional cult-related items are indicative of the large number of Muslims and of their presence in the town as early as in the 13th century. Some Mordovians could have been islamized. The objects of the Christian cult are concentrated mostly in the southern part of the settlement, in the whereabouts of the Christian quarter. Substantial amounts of the Old Russian ceramics are encountered there, minor amounts of Mordovian and Italian pottery occur invariably. Items associated with pagan rites are scarce. Those are dated back not just to the 13th century, but to the second half of the 14th century, as well. Small amount of the Old Russian and Mordovian crockery and ceramics of the Finno-Ugrians from the Kama region was found in various parts of the town.
Особенности топографии и застройки Багаевского селища

Особенности топографии и застройки Багаевского селища
(Characteristics of the Topography and Development of Bagaevka Rural Settlement)

  • Author(s):Leonard Fedorovich Nedashkovsky, Marat Bayazitovich Shigapov
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology
  • Page Range:463-482
  • No. of Pages:20
  • Keywords:Low Volga region; Golden Horde; 13th—14th centuries; settlements; material culture
  • Summary/Abstract:The article aims to characterize the topography of the Golden Horde Bagaevka settlement, which is situated in the Saratov District of the Saratov Oblast. The settlement was included in the past in the region of the Golden Horde city Ukek and existed in the second half of the 13th — 14th century. Special attention is paid to trench I, works on which were conducted in 2002—2003, 2007—2012 and 2014—2016. Such questions as use of the discovered structures, distribution of separate categories of finds in them, including numismatic materials (which are dated in general from the last quarter of the 13th century to 1360/1361 AD), the imports and artefacts associated with presence of various ethnic groups on the site are addressed.
Административно-территориальная структура области Сарай (дельта р. Волга)

Административно-территориальная структура области Сарай (дельта р. Волга)
(The Administrative-Territorial Structure of the Capital Sarai Region (Delta of the Volga River))

  • Author(s):Evgeniy M. Pigarev
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Historical Geography, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:483-508
  • No. of Pages:26
  • Keywords:Jochi Ulus; Golden Horde; historical geography; administrative-territorial structure; Sarai region (vilayet); Orda; Hadji-Tarkhan; Summerkent; Saray al-Jadid; Kizil
  • Summary/Abstract:The article is devoted to the administrative-territorial structure of the political center of a Golden Horde region (vilayet) known as Sarai, which was located in the Delta of the Volga River. Research history of the largest towns and their environs is discussed. The administrative units are characterized in accordance with the chronology of historical events. The life span of the settlements and the stages in their development are determined through analysis and comparison of archaeological, numismatic and written data. The process of urbanization in the region is linked to the changes in the level of the Caspian Sea. Suggestions are made about the location of the first capital of Jochi Ulus (the city of Sarai) and the name of Krasny Yar town.
Комплекс золотоордынских памятников у пос. Красный Бобровского района Воронежской области

Комплекс золотоордынских памятников у пос. Красный Бобровского района Воронежской области
(The Complex of the Golden Horde Sites near Krasnyi Village, Bobrov District, Voronezh Oblast)

  • Author(s):Mikhail V. Tcybin, Nikolay M. Savitskiy
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:509-520
  • No. of Pages:12
  • Keywords:Middle Don region; Golden Horde; mausoleum; crypt; nomads;aristocracy;
  • Summary/Abstract:The article offers materials of research on the complex of the Golden Horde sites found near Krasnyi village, Bobrov District of the Voronezh Oblast. The complex included the remains of two mausoleums, a settlement, and a kiln for firing bricks. Mausoleum 1 and the kiln were studied by V. P. Levasheva in 1948. Here the main attention focuses on the results of excavations in mausoleum 2, conducted by the expedition of the Voronezh State University in 1989 and 2002. The dimensions of the mausoleum are 21,5×10,5 m. It belongs to a rare in the Golden Horde type of two-chamber rectangular mausoleums with a wide pishtak. The architectural decor of the mausoleum finds analogies among the materials of the Selitrennoe settlement on the Lower Volga. The crypt in the mausoleum was intended for interment of aristocratic members of the nomadic ulus in the Middle Don region. The complex under consideration is not the remains of an urban settlement.
Ртутный странник: об исследовании одного средневекового погребения

Ртутный странник: об исследовании одного средневекового погребения
(Mercury Wanderer: a study of a medieval burial)

  • Author(s):Zvezdana V. Dode
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 6th to 12th Centuries, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:521-546
  • No. of Pages:26
  • Keywords:Central Asia; Mongol Empire; Golden Horde; medieval nomads; Shumaevo cemetery; burial with mercury; archaeological textiles; defleshing; radiocarbon analysis; embalming; funerary rite
  • Summary/Abstract:The excavation process of a unique medieval burial containing mercury in one of the kurgans of the Shumaevo burial ground was conducted with a number of methodological and analytical errors, that resulted in an incorrect attribution of the complex to the period of the Golden Horde. “Technical details” that were taken for granted without any critical examination were reproduced in a number of publications and engendered a number of invalid conclusions regarding the origin, social station and spiritual habits of the Shumaevo warrior. New data obtained from studying textiles from the burial indicate the mistaken dating of the burial and the premature nature of the conclusions regarding the complex’s connection with the political and cultural history of the Mongols. The burial was made by the early medieval nomads that were dominant in Central Asia long before the arrival of the Mongols.
Проблема правления Тинибека

Проблема правления Тинибека
(The Problem of Tinibek’s Reign)

  • Author(s):Irina Yu. Lapshina
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:547-550
  • No. of Pages:4
  • Keywords:Golden Horde; khan; successor; legitimacy; reign; annals; Arab sources
  • Summary/Abstract:The question of Tinibek’s regiment is ambiguously considered in historiography. Russian, Western European and Arab sources, which cover the problem of devolution after Uzbek khan’s death, have been analyzed in this research. These documents let us think that Tinibek wasn’t a khan of Sarai. That point is also confirmed by the absence of silver coins minted on behalf of Tinibek. Benedict Pope’s letters represent some interesting information, according to which Janibek could become a heir in the lifetime of his father. However, Tinibek’s actions after Uzbek’s death show that he wished for occupying Sarai’s throne and did not intend to stay as a regent in Sygnak.
Скопления костей животных в городах Золотой Орды: основные находки, видовой состав, анатомический набор

Скопления костей животных в городах Золотой Орды: основные находки, видовой состав, анатомический набор
(Concentrations of Animal Bones in the Cities of the Golden Horde: main finds, species, anatomical set)

  • Author(s):Lilia V. Yavorskaya
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:553-567
  • No. of Pages:15
  • Keywords:Eastern Europe; cities of the Russian north-west; cities of the Golden Horde; bone pavements; archaeozoological research; taxonomic composition; anatomical spectrum; handicraft production of animal ma
  • Summary/Abstract:Novgorod and Pskov, medieval cities of the Russian North-West, are known for concentrations of bones dated by the early 16th century. These “bone pavements” consisted of the remains of meat trade, which were used within the urban space as a sealing layer under wooden structures, that is, for the site improvement.The article analyzes species and anatomical set of bone concentrations found in another cultural-landscape space of medieval Eastern Europe — in three cities of the Golden Horde: Azak, Majar and Bolgar. Within these concentrations, the usual taxonomic set of animal bone remains is recorded, but somewhat depleted. Shares of bones of birds and fish, as well as wild mammals and domestic animals are significantly less numerous than in ordinary household accumulations. In some concentrations, the share of horse bones is sharply reduced. Basically, the osteological range in these concentrations includes the remains of cattle, with a particularly high share of small cattle, which can exceed the share of big cattle by 2—5 and even 8 times. An analysis of the anatomical collection of bones from the concentrations revealed two sets of cattle remains. The first set, consisting of the remains of the heads and lower parts of the limbs of animals, we associate with industrial waste from large-scale slaughter of livestock for their hides. The second set: scapular, radial, femoral and tibial bones of cattle, shoulder blades and tibial bones of small cattle are interpreted as blanks of bone material for the production of products. Thus, bone accumulations in the cities of the Golden Horde have a “production” origin. All such concentrations were found in the the craft quarters of cities, and in case the respective anatomical set of bone remains is documented by archeozoological study can serve as a marker for existence of craft activities, aimed at production of articles from raw animal material.
Локализация комплекса из урочища Гашун-Уста (Ставропольская губерния, 1890 г.) и выделение золотоордынских владений в Центральном Предкавказье

Локализация комплекса из урочища Гашун-Уста (Ставропольская губерния, 1890 г.) и выделение золотоордынских владений в Центральном Предкавказье
(Localization of Finds from the Gashun-Usta Stow (Stavropol Governorate, 1890) and the Delimitation of the Golden Horde Possessions in the Central Ciscaucasia)

  • Author(s):Vitaly A. Babenko
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Historical Geography, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:569-584
  • No. of Pages:16
  • Keywords:Stavropol upland; stow; belt garniture; belt-bowl; ulus
  • Summary/Abstract:The article analyzes materials of the Kumo-Manych expedition, 1860—1861, that allow you to specify the localization of the Gashun-Usta stow on the territory of the Stavropol Governorate. In 1890, the expedition found a belt garniture and a belt-bowl, dated by Mengu-Timur’s time.The Gashun-Usta stow is localized in the vicinity of the Basanta village, Arzgirsky district, Stavropol region in the basin of the Chogray river (North-Eastern slopes of the Stavropol Upland), known for its numerous burials of the Golden Horde. It was the area for summer and winter pastures of the medieval nomads, and it can be associated with G. de Rubruk’s accounts on Bеrke’s encampments.
Находки половецких каменных изваяний как источник по изучению географии половецких кочевий степного Прикубанья

Находки половецких каменных изваяний как источник по изучению географии половецких кочевий степного Прикубанья
(Finds of Polovtsian Stone Sculptures as a Source for the Study of Geography of Polovtsian Nomadic Camps in the Kuban Steppe)

  • Author(s):Yuriy V. Zelenskiy
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Historical Geography, Middle Ages, 6th to 12th Centuries
  • Page Range:585-588
  • No. of Pages:4
  • Keywords:Kuban; Middle Ages; Kuman; sculptures;museum;
  • Summary/Abstract:The author reviews places where Polovtsian stone sculptures were found on the territory of the Kuban steppe and Eastern Trans-Kuban. First statues were delivered to the Museum in the late nineteenth century, and are still delivered nowadays. Before the revolution, there was no regular reporting about original locations of such finds. In 1950s — early 21st century, statues were brought from villages located on the territory of the Central steppe area in the middle Kuban area and Eastern Trans-Kuban. Finds of the Polovtsian stone sculptures are a valuable source on the geography of the Polovtsian nomadic camps in the Kuban basin.
Адыгская керамика из археологических памятников XIII—XV веков в фондах Государственного музея Востока

Адыгская керамика из археологических памятников XIII—XV веков в фондах Государственного музея Востока
(Adygean Pottery from the Archaeological Sites of the 13th—15th Centuries AD from the Collections of the State Museum of Oriental Art)

  • Author(s):Ludmila M. Noskova
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries, 15th Century
  • Page Range:589-598
  • No. of Pages:10
  • Keywords:North-Eastern Black Sea region; Adygea; Golden Horde period; 13th—15th centuries; cemetery; kurgan; ceramics; pottery
  • Summary/Abstract:The article discusses a small collection of ceramics of 13th—15th centuries from the excavations of the Caucasian archaeological expedition of the State Museum of Oriental Art in Adygea and on the Eastern Black sea coast of the Caucasus. Most of the pottery comes from the Shendjiy kurgan cemetery (Adygea) and Kabardinka kurgan cemetery (near Gelendzhik). Several vessels were found on the banks of the Krasnodar water reservoir, where late medieval funerary sites are situated. The material divides into two groups: one originates from the left bank of the Kuban river, and the other one from the Black Sea region. Vessels come in different forms, mostly jugs and mugs. All the vessels are made of red clay, which is typical for Adygea ceramics of the Golden Horde time made with the help of potter’s wheel of slow rotation. Most of the jars in the second group have a rim in the shape of oenochoe, with spout on the side or opposite the handle, which is a feature of vessels from the Black Sea region, never found on the left bank of the Kuban River. At the same time, jugs with tubular spout — an imitation of metal jugs — appear among the ceramic finds. In general, ceramic forms represented in the collections of the Museum of the Oriental Art complement the main types of vessels, common in the North-Western Caucasus in the 14th—15th centuries.
Два захоронения воинов-кочевников ХIII—ХIV вв. из Северо-Восточного Причерноморья (к истории формирования комплекса вооружения Золотой Орды)

Два захоронения воинов-кочевников ХIII—ХIV вв. из Северо-Восточного Причерноморья (к истории формирования комплекса вооружения Золотой Орды)
(Two Burials of Nomadic Warriors of the 13th—14th Centuries from the North-Eastern Black Sea Region (to the history of the formation of the complex of weapons of the Golden Horde))

  • Author(s):Alexander V. Dmitriev, Evgeniy I. Narozhny
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Military history, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:599-639
  • No. of Pages:41
  • Keywords:North-Eastern Black Sea Region; Golden Horde; nomads; military affairs; armament; combat headgear; shields
  • Summary/Abstract:The article introduces two new and previously unpublished burial places for nomadic warriors from the burial mound “Molokanova Shchel” (near the village of Praskoveevka — Gelendzhik, Krasnodar Krai). Both burials of 35—45 year-old men were accompanied by certain sets of weapons — quiver kits, sabers and a spearhead. One of them contained a helmet composed of 4 parts and an ax; the other one contained the remains of a wooden shield with metal parts. Determining the dating of both complexes in the framework of the Golden Horde time, the authors dwell in detail on the attribution of the helmet and the remnants of the shield, linking their appearance in the Northeast Black Sea Coast with the resettlement here of the black hoods from the Southern Russia in 1260s. This raises the question of the need to take into account the contribution of the “pre-Mongol” Eastern European nomads, trapped inside the Golden Horde along with much of their traditional material culture, in modern disputes about the sources of armament of the population of the Golden Horde.
Топография городских могильников золотоордынского Азака и их влияние на общегородскую планировку

Топография городских могильников золотоордынского Азака и их влияние на общегородскую планировку
(The Topography of Necropolises in the Golden Horde Azak, and their Impact on the Urban Planning)

  • Author(s):Andrei Nikolaevich Maslovskiy
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:641-656
  • No. of Pages:16
  • Keywords:Lower Don; Golden Horde; Azak; burial site; topography; chronology
  • Summary/Abstract:Excavations of Azak are held in every district of the town. That is why now it is possible to study some questions of planigraphy of this Golden Horde town. The paper lists and locates 38 so far discovered necropolis sites of 13th—14th centuries. Briefly, the origin of these sites is also offered. Mapping of the objects shows a certain logic in their location. In fact, there are two chains of necropolises almost fully surrounding the town. The necropolises in each chain appeared almost simultaneously. Both arcs of necropolises, apparently, were a result of an administrative policy, which intended to move them outside of the habitable districts. But due to rapid growth of the town in the first half of the 14th century, the necropolises in the earlier internal arc got surrounded by residential estates. Thus, the second arc of necropolises was the result of this process.
Новые данные по исторической географии золотоордынских поселений Нижнего Подонья и Северо-Восточного Приазовья

Новые данные по исторической географии золотоордынских поселений Нижнего Подонья и Северо-Восточного Приазовья
(New Data on the Historical Geography of the Golden Horde Settlements of the Lower Don and the North-Eastern Azov Sea Region)

  • Author(s):Alexander P. Minaev, Nikita I. Iudin
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Historical Geography, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries
  • Page Range:657-667
  • No. of Pages:11
  • Keywords:Don basin; Azov Sea region; Golden Horde; Azak; settlement; historical geography; trade relations
  • Summary/Abstract:Settlements located in the North-Eastern Azov and Lower Don basin are of great interest for the study of trade and economic relations in 13th—14th cc. both with the center of the region, which was the Azak, and between rural sites. During the analysis of the material obtained from the settlements, it is possible to determine the nature of the settlement: whether it was a small town or a rural center, as well as to imagine the degree of involvement of each settlement in trade activities, and to give an overall picture of the development of commodity relations in the region.
Средневековые поселения на территории Донецких степей

Средневековые поселения на территории Донецких степей
(Medieval Settlements on the Territory of Donetsk Steppes)

  • Author(s):Eduard E. Kravchenko
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Historical Geography, Middle Ages, 6th to 12th Centuries, 13th to 14th Centuries, 15th Century
  • Page Range:669-690
  • No. of Pages:22
  • Keywords:Severskiy Donets river; Donetsk ridge; Azov Sea region; fortified settlements; settlements; roads; centers
  • Summary/Abstract:The work considers the history of medieval settlements in the steppe between the Dnieper and the Don. It includes the lands of the Donetsk Ridge, the Northern Azov Sea, and the buffer zone between the steppe and the forest-steppe in the middle reaches of the river Severskiy Donets. Steppe open spaces throughout the Middle Ages were the habitat of nomads. In periods of stability, when these lands were part of large state entities, settlements appeared on some of their plots near roads. These roads crossed the steppes in the latitudinal direction, which was connected with the cultural ties of the region, in which the Crimea, the Northern Caucasus and the Lower Dnieper Basin played a prominent role.In the buffer zone, settlements existed during the entire Middle Ages. In the Khazar and Golden Horde times large trade and craft centers grew in the contact zone between the steppe and the forest-steppe. In these settlements, there was also an administration that led the life of the nomadic steppe. The defeat at the end of the 14th century led to the complete collapse of the settled way of life in the region, after which nomadic hordes dominated the lands for two centuries.In this way, the natural factor, cultural and economic traditions, the existence of trade communications and the political situation played an important role in formation of medieval settlements in the Donetsk steppes. The most developed regions were those with long-standing traditions of settled life style.
Культовая архитектура золотоордынского Крыма: версия Э. Д. Зиливинской

Культовая архитектура золотоордынского Крыма: версия Э. Д. Зиливинской
(Cult Architecture of the Crimea in the Golden Horde Epoch: E. D. Zilivinskaya’s Version)

  • Author(s):Vladimir P. Kirilko
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Architecture, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries, History of Art
  • Page Range:691-739
  • No. of Pages:49
  • Keywords:Crimea; Golden Horde architecture; cult architecture; mosque; minaret; madrasah; dürbe; Christian church; E. D. Zilivinskaya
  • Summary/Abstract:In her monograph Golden Horde Architecture. Part I. Cult Architecture (Kazan: Otechestvo, 2014), E. D. Zilivinskaya focuses on the Crimean sites. Along with a presentation of buildings from the main regions of Jochi’s Ulus, there searcher also communicates some separate data about mosques, minarets, madrasah, mausoleums and Christian churches on the peninsula, which are often obsolete, distorted or unreliable. The Crimean content of the monograph is based on some scarce sources, while numerous relevant archival materials and publications seem to be unknown to the author. Frequent mistakes in comments to illustrations and an attempt to offer for scientific discussion some blueprints with false graphic information about plans and orientation of the buildings should be treated as some serious shortcomings of this work. In spite of the obvious relevance of this research, an overview of the cult architecture of the Golden Horde Crimea, which is offered in this monograph, should be examined rather critically and requires a review of almost all published data.
Историческая география крымских территорий Генуэзской Газарии (1275—1475 гг.)

Историческая география крымских территорий Генуэзской Газарии (1275—1475 гг.)
(Historical Geography of the Crimean Territories of the Genoese Gazaria (1275—1475))

  • Author(s):Sergei Gennadievich Bocharov
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Geography, Regional studies, Historical Geography, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries, 15th Century
  • Page Range:741-770
  • No. of Pages:30
  • Keywords:Crimea; Genoese Gazaria; Caffa; Campania of Caffa; Soldaia; Cembalo; Consulate; historical geography; historical topography; archaeology
  • Summary/Abstract:The article primarily focuses on the historical geography of the Crimean territories of the Genoese Gazaria. The Genoese Gazaria is the totality of the Genoese possessions on the lands of the Golden Horde, especially in the coastal areas of the Northern Black Sea, where the medieval toponym “Gazaria” was used to embrace the whole state of the Golden Horde. In general, there were no clear state borders in the Genoese Gazaria: those were coastal zones under the rule of the khans of the Golden Horde, where the Genoese would be given separate quarters in the cities and would enjoy autonomous rights, or would establish their settlements on the coast. The Crimean peninsula was an exception in this system, there the Genoese settled a whole system of cities and rural districts, with clear political and administrative borders. The domain of the Genoese on the Crimean peninsula developed into independent political and administrative system during a long and gradual process, which took a hundred years: from the origin of the main regional center in Caffa (around 1275) to 1387. The author addresses historical geography of the various administrative parts of the Genoese Gazaria on the Crimean peninsula: the rural district of Caffa, Consulates of Soldaia, Cembalo and Vosporo, and possessions on the Southern Coast of the Crimea, the Kerch Peninsula and the Tarkhankut Peninsula. He also analyzes findings of a study into the historical topography of the four fortified Genoese cities — Caffa, Soldaia, Cembalo and Vosporo.
Консульский замок генуэзской крепости Чембало XIV—XV вв. (по материалам археологических раскопок 1999—2008 гг.)

Консульский замок генуэзской крепости Чембало XIV—XV вв. (по материалам археологических раскопок 1999—2008 гг.)
(The Consul’s Residence of Genoese Fortress Cembalo of 14th—15th Centuries (by archaeological excavations in 1999—2008))

  • Author(s):Serhiy V. Dyachkov
  • Language:Russian
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Military history, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries, 15th Century
  • Page Range:771-789
  • No. of Pages:19
  • Keywords:Genoese Gazaria; Cembalo; consul’s residence; consul’s church; burials; tower; shells; trebuchet; brigandine
  • Summary/Abstract:In 1999―2008, the joint expedition of “Tauric Chersonesos” National Reserve and by “V. N. Karazin” National University in Kharkiv investigated the area of the consul’s residence (castle) of the Genoese fortress Cembalo (14th—15th centuries) in Balaklava was located. Excavations on the so-called “consul’s church” found on the territory of the consul’s residence discovered that the church was used by inhabitants as a burial vault. Excavations of tower no.8 and in the adjacent area give some reasons to believe that the tower was part of the fortress’s defensive structures. While digging on site B situated near tower no. 8 we found chamber 3 (constructed in late 15th—16th centuries). The walls of chamber 3 were made of stone shells of predominantly spherical shape. This ‘arsenal’ included 208 shells that weighed 20―104 kg each, which were meant to be used by trebuchet machines against enemy ships. A special platform for trebuchet was constructed on consul’s residence territory. During the excavations of 2007―2008, remains of iron lamellar armor were discovered on the platform. Some peculiarities and circumstances of the find allow us to suppose that the discovered details were fragments of a brigandine, an armor widely spread in the 14th—15th centuries. The armor could belong to an arbalester of the local garrison. So, the Consul’s Castle was the residence of some Genoese official and an important element of the defensive system of the fortress Cembalo.
Animal Food Resources in the Golden Horde Period. Case Study: Old Orhei (Republic of Moldova)

Animal Food Resources in the Golden Horde Period. Case Study: Old Orhei (Republic of Moldova)
(Animal Food Resources in the Golden Horde Period. Case Study: Old Orhei (Republic of Moldova))

  • Author(s):Ludmila Bacumenco-Pîrnău, Luminiţa Bejenaru, Simina Rafailă-Stanc
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):History, Archaeology, Economic history, Middle Ages, 13th to 14th Centuries, 15th Century
  • Page Range:791-803
  • No. of Pages:13
  • Keywords:Golden Horde; Old Orhei; food; topography; archaeozoology
  • Summary/Abstract:The archaeological level of the Golden Horde period is analyzed, and this assemblage is compared to the level of the 15th —17th centuries in order to account for a diachronical variability of food resources of animal origin on the Old Orhei site.The study of medieval Old Orhei is mainly focused on the diversity of food resources as reflected by the archaeozoological analysis. Previous archaeozoological studies of the medieval period in Old Orhei discussed aspects related to animal species identified on the site and the proportion of wild and domestic species. The consumers of animal products especially differed by their ethnic belonging. Thus, in the period of Mongol (the Golden Horde) occupation, the main domestic species used in alimentation were the sheep/goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus), the cattle (Bos taurus) and the horse (Equus caballus), while later — after Mongol retreat, the livestock of the local economy was mainly represented by the cattle (Bos taurus) and the pig (Sus domesticus).The hunting records a very low rate (0.24% NISP) during the Golden Horde period; the low occurrence frequency of wild animals’ remains in this cultural level is quite surprising, since the documents of the time contain information emphasizing that the Mongols used to greatly rely on hunting, which was practiced for different purposes: to compensate a food shortage, to secure furs and hides, to keep fit for future battles, etc.
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