The Volga Estuary in the 13th Century (based on the materials of the Samosdelka hillfort site and newly-found sites in the area) Cover Image

Дельта Волги в XIII веке (по материалам Самосдельского городища и новых памятников, выявленных в дельте)
The Volga Estuary in the 13th Century (based on the materials of the Samosdelka hillfort site and newly-found sites in the area)

Author(s): Dmitry V. Vasiliev
Subject(s): History, Archaeology, Regional Geography, Historical Geography, Middle Ages, 6th to 12th Centuries, 13th to 14th Centuries
Published by: Издательский дом Stratum, Университет «Высшая антропологическая школа»
Keywords: Volga estuary; Golden Horde; domain of Saqsin; Samosdelka hillfort; Moshaik hillfort; Krasny Yar hillfort; Mongol invasion; population
Summary/Abstract: The author characterizes sites of the Volga estuary, related to the Saqsin domain in the 13th century. The devastation of towns and villages during the Mongol invasion and the rise of the Caspian Sea water level resulted in population redistribution: the outflow of the estuary area inhabitants to its northern regions adjacent to the first capital of the Golden Horde. The period was marked by caravan trade development, which resulted in the rise of the Moshaik settlement that was located by the Volga estuary crossing.