Historical and archaeological research at the mouth of the Om River in 2023-2024

The initial period of the city of Omsk has so far remained understudied - it is yet unknown when the first Russian settlement appeared at the mouth of the Om River. The official date of the city’s foundation is believed to be 1716, but some historical documents indicate that it might have been much earlier, in 1628. In 2023, exploratory excavations for establishing the boundaries and nature of the cultural layer were done in the first Omsk fortress. In 2024, the study continued near the confluence of the Om and Irtysh Rivers, where surface finds indicated possible Russian cultural layers of the first half of the 17th century. The works in the first Omsk fortress revealed that cultural layers of the 18th century, dated by coins of 1718 and 1792, were not rich in widely occurring finds (pottery and animal bones), especially compared to the evidence from archaeological sites of the Irtysh region of the 17th-18th centuries. One of the objects discovered - a cellar for storing food - may be associated with the fortress. Research at the mouth of the Om River produced the evidence which proves existence of a Russian fortified settlement there in the first half of the 17th century. Its military nature was manifested by weaponry and military equipment, which were discovered in significant numbers for the explored area of 20 sq. m. The early layers were covered by layers from the 18th century when the Podgorny forstadt existed there.