Traditional water transport of the Amur basin

This article explores the traditional water transport of the indigenous peoples of the Amur River basin (Nanai, Udege, Oroch, Ulchi, Nivkh, and others) as an element of their material and, to some extent, spiritual culture. Drawing on archaeological, linguistic, and ethnographic data (including personal fieldwork), the author provides a retrospective overview of the stages of formation, role, functions, and design features of boats in the region. It is argued that ethnic water transport has deeper roots in the ethnocultural landscape of the Amur River and depends on the specific environmental conditions of a given region of the Amur River basin. Boats themselves are a marker and symbol of the local cultural landscape. Using the Ussuri River basin and its mountain tributaries (the Bikin, Khor, and Bolshaya Ussurka (Iman) rivers) as an example, the main types of watercrafts - omorochki and baty - are analyzed. The complete technological cycle of their manufacture is reconstructed in detail, taking into account the habitat, characteristics, and objectives of the Udege ethnic culture. The reason for the stability of traditional boat shapes on tributaries, in relation to the main channel of the Amur River, is explained.