City people out the city: ethnographic study of the new ecovillages at the territory of Omsk region (2015 expedition campaign)

Middle Irtysh Ethnographic expedition of Omsk department of Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS explored two types of new eco-settlemnts, spread on Omsk region. We present here the obtained data. One type originated from the revival (the invention) Slavic pagan (“Slavic-Vedic ”) culture, the second-from the new spiritual movements “Ringing Cedars of Russia ” and “Anastasia ”, widespread in Russia. Environmental orientation combines both movements. We explore the ecovillages at the Yurt-Bergamak slow of Muromtsevo district and Az Grad slow of Omsk district in Omsk region. The basis of these settlements is the idea to revive the “ancient Slavic ” tradition. Also, we surveyed the Anastasievo settlements: Chernoozerie (Imbiren) of Sargat district Berezovka (Oberezhnoe) of Gorki district in the Omsk region. We present here the history of settlement foundation and their cultural specificity. The main unit of the village is familiar house, which usually included living house, craft workshop, various outbuildings. Sometimes houses have unusual architectural forms (for example, spheroid, prismatic, conical) and details of decor, reflecting the cultural and religious specificity. People handraise and cattle farming - the goat breeding for milk mainly. They gather the wild harvests and keep wild bees. The content of the ritual and ceremonial rituals depends on the ideological and religious beliefs of the community members. The supporters of the revival of Slavic antiquities attach importance the holidays of Perun and Solstice. Anastasievo people celebrate the Earth Day and organize “marriage jamborees ”, where young people are looking for their “half’. We conclude that the settlers did not achieve a complete break with the urban environment. Generated by this circumstance duality of the urban people position is probably the most important aspect of the phenomenon of new ecovillages.