Silver in Yakutia in the 17th century

Abstract

Silver has been a favorite metal of jewelers in Yakutia since ancient times. But, unfortunately, up to the present time, how the metal was mined or delivered in the territory of Yakutia was not sufficiently covered in the literature. In this work, on the basis of archival documents, we will try to explain information about silver products and their distribution in Yakutia, and sources and ways of silver supply before the 17th century for Yakut blacksmiths. Silver items in the territory of Yakutia were undoubtedly produced by local craftsmen until the 17th century. It is not known for certain where they were delivered or mined from. However, there were known silver deposits on the territory of Yakutia at that time. This is visible by the evidence of the Yukagirs with silver ore on the Neroga River. One of the sources of silver supply may have been Transbaikalia, from the deposits developed by the Daurian prince Lavkay. Undoubtedly, the Yakut diaspora lived in those places (confirmed by official documents of the 17th century), which, perhaps, left its traces in the toponym of Transbaikalia. We do not know what they did, but it is quite possible to assume that they were intermediaries in the trade of Chinese goods between the Daurian and Yakut princes. The most common silver item in demand not only among the Yakut, but also the Evenk and Yukaghir population of the region, was a silver circle. Undoubtedly, it was considered an attribute of the social status of its bearer and, probably, of faith - the worship of the sun, which gives warmth and fertile summers to the northerners.