Social Topography of the Golden Horde Bolgar in the Works by A.P. Smirnov and according to the Results of New Studies

The study of the social topography of medieval Bolgar has been one of the important directions since the beginning of systematic archaeological works in 1938. During the work of the archaeological expedition led by A.P. Smirnov, there was accumulation of the material and data on the social topograph...

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Main Author: Denis Yu. Badeev
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: State institution «Tatarstan Аcademy of Sciences» 2023-12-01
Series:Археология евразийских степей
Subjects:
Online Access:https://evrazstep.ru/index.php/aes/article/view/1147
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author Denis Yu. Badeev
author_facet Denis Yu. Badeev
author_sort Denis Yu. Badeev
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description The study of the social topography of medieval Bolgar has been one of the important directions since the beginning of systematic archaeological works in 1938. During the work of the archaeological expedition led by A.P. Smirnov, there was accumulation of the material and data on the social topography of Bolgar. The locations of various handicraft complexes were recorded, the concentration of ceramics of various ethnic-cultural groups was noted. To characterize the Bolgar sites A.P. Smirnov and his followers used terminology more typical for Russian medieval urban settlements («posad», «sloboda»). Attempts to single out city blocks because of craft specialization did not bring noticeable results. Nowadays, with the use of a wide range of objects of material culture, objects of monumental architecture and the features of residential buildings, as well as application of the data on the location of craft complexes, the size of estates, it is possible to allocate at least four large craft districts for the Golden Horde Bolgar: trade and craft district, the area beyond the Melenka river with metallurgical and pottery industries, the area of metallurgical production at the Black Chamber, and the pottery district by the Gollandskoye lake. The districts existed simultaneously just in the first half of the XIV century. The urban periphery in the western and southern parts was occupied by large estates. They could belong to the local feudal elite. The historical core of the city, on the site of the pre-Mongol citadel, can be associated with the administrative center of Bolgar of the Golden Horde period. Administrative functions could also be performed by residents in the area around the Мaly minaret (Small Minaret).
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spelling doaj.art-bbd12959799d4321be6ba71cc75cde6b2024-01-20T12:31:34ZengState institution «Tatarstan Аcademy of Sciences»Археология евразийских степей2587-61122618-94882023-12-01617819010.24852/2587-6112.2023.6.178.190Social Topography of the Golden Horde Bolgar in the Works by A.P. Smirnov and according to the Results of New StudiesDenis Yu. Badeev0Institute of Archaeology, Russian Academy of Sciences. Dmitry Ulyanov St., 19, Moscow, 117036, Russian FederationThe study of the social topography of medieval Bolgar has been one of the important directions since the beginning of systematic archaeological works in 1938. During the work of the archaeological expedition led by A.P. Smirnov, there was accumulation of the material and data on the social topography of Bolgar. The locations of various handicraft complexes were recorded, the concentration of ceramics of various ethnic-cultural groups was noted. To characterize the Bolgar sites A.P. Smirnov and his followers used terminology more typical for Russian medieval urban settlements («posad», «sloboda»). Attempts to single out city blocks because of craft specialization did not bring noticeable results. Nowadays, with the use of a wide range of objects of material culture, objects of monumental architecture and the features of residential buildings, as well as application of the data on the location of craft complexes, the size of estates, it is possible to allocate at least four large craft districts for the Golden Horde Bolgar: trade and craft district, the area beyond the Melenka river with metallurgical and pottery industries, the area of metallurgical production at the Black Chamber, and the pottery district by the Gollandskoye lake. The districts existed simultaneously just in the first half of the XIV century. The urban periphery in the western and southern parts was occupied by large estates. They could belong to the local feudal elite. The historical core of the city, on the site of the pre-Mongol citadel, can be associated with the administrative center of Bolgar of the Golden Horde period. Administrative functions could also be performed by residents in the area around the Мaly minaret (Small Minaret).https://evrazstep.ru/index.php/aes/article/view/1147archaeologymiddle volgagolden hordemedieval citycrafturban district
spellingShingle Denis Yu. Badeev
Social Topography of the Golden Horde Bolgar in the Works by A.P. Smirnov and according to the Results of New Studies
Археология евразийских степей
archaeology
middle volga
golden horde
medieval city
craft
urban district
title Social Topography of the Golden Horde Bolgar in the Works by A.P. Smirnov and according to the Results of New Studies
title_full Social Topography of the Golden Horde Bolgar in the Works by A.P. Smirnov and according to the Results of New Studies
title_fullStr Social Topography of the Golden Horde Bolgar in the Works by A.P. Smirnov and according to the Results of New Studies
title_full_unstemmed Social Topography of the Golden Horde Bolgar in the Works by A.P. Smirnov and according to the Results of New Studies
title_short Social Topography of the Golden Horde Bolgar in the Works by A.P. Smirnov and according to the Results of New Studies
title_sort social topography of the golden horde bolgar in the works by a p smirnov and according to the results of new studies
topic archaeology
middle volga
golden horde
medieval city
craft
urban district
url https://evrazstep.ru/index.php/aes/article/view/1147
work_keys_str_mv AT denisyubadeev socialtopographyofthegoldenhordebolgarintheworksbyapsmirnovandaccordingtotheresultsofnewstudies