The colonisation of the territories of the Middle Irtysh region by the tatars in the 18th - early 20th centuries (based on archaeological research)

Previously not studied seasonal settlements and small settlements of the West Siberian Tatars in the 18th-early 20th century, as well as their role in the colonization of territories in the Middle Irtysh region are considered. Until now, the existence of such settlements was only a hypothesis. In order to study options for the development of natural spaces by local groups of the West Siberian Tatars, a study of these types of settlements was carried out on the basis of archaeological work in the north-forest-steppe and south-taiga zones of the left bank of the Middle Irtysh, supplemented by oral historical materials and archival data. The authors analyze models of colonization of the territories of the specified areas by the Tatars in the 18th-early 20th century. For the first time, the authors carry out archaeological research on these settlements. Their accurate locations are being established, which have not yet been known to date. As a result of the analysis of the obtained data, the authors distinguish two models of the development of south-taiga and north-forest-steppe space. Creation of a network of seasonal settlements was typical of the first model. Summer settlements were in the floodplain of a large river, which made it possible to effectively graze cattle and fish. Winter settlements were located on the edge of the terrace, where it was more convenient to gather firewood, hunt, collect berries and cedar nuts. The first model was widespread in the territories of the traditional residence of the Siberian Tatars and existed, based on archaeological data, for a long time. The second model mostly existed in the north-forest-steppe areas of the left bank of the Irtysh River. For this model, the existence of the main settlement located on the low ridge or the edge of the lake terrace and several small settlements located in less convenient places was typical. The former were more convenient for living, the latter were used for farming (usually, cattle breeding). Based on written sources, this model appeared quite late, in the second half of the 18th century, and was located in the territories of the compact residence of the Bokharans.