On Correlation of an Archaeological Site and a Historical Settlement: Historical Approach (Through the Example of Ust-Voikarskoe Site and Voikarsky Gorodok)

Abstract

Purpose. Ust-Voikarskoe site is situated in the Lower Ob Region (Shuryshkarsky district of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, Russia). It represents autochthonous late Middle-Age culture of the north of Western Siberia. The article discusses verification of the sources used for analysis that would confirm possible identity of the archeological site Ust-Voikarskoe and a historical settlement of the Middle-Age, Voikarsky Gorodok. Results. Firstly, researches noted that the archaeological site had been known in the written sources as Ostyak (Khanty) Voikarsky Gorodok since at least the beginning of the 17th century, including Russian fiscal documents. Siberian local historians of the 2nd half of the 19th century mentioned some “ancient hills” located near the village of Voikarskie Yurty. At the same time, there is a group of other sources which have not been analyzed yet. A complex review of all the sources that we conducted tells us an intricate story with more questions than answers. Where exactly were “ancient hills” near the village of Voikarskie Yurty located? What did they look like? We discovered that the Khanty had a few settlements named Voikarskie Yurty. So, the question remains, which Voikarskie Yurty was located near the settlement identified by historians as Voikarsky Gorodok? Conclusion. Known historical materials cannot indisputably prove the identity of the archeological Ust-Voikarskoe site and the historical Middle-Age settlement of Voikarsky Gorodok. They also cannot be the ground to say that these places are connected with the territory that was explored by archaeologists at the beginning of the 21st century.