On North-Western Contacts of Perm Finns in VII-VIII Centuries

Abstract

In the Middle Ages Perm Finns lived in the territory of the north and middle piedmont of the western Urals. Komi-Zyrians: Vanvizdino (IV–X c.) and Vym (XI–XIV c.) cultures. Komi-Permyaks: Lomovatovo, Nevolino and Polom (late IV–IX c.) as well as Rodanovo (X–XV c.) and Cheptsa (X–XIII c.) archaeological cultures. North-western contacts with Fennoscandian tribes and particularly Baltic Finns played a significant role in the history of Permians. One of the ways to trace the history of their contacts is Nevolino-type belt sets manufactured by Perm craftsmen. Their finding in Finland is a result of Perm merchants’ travelling. They dealt not only in furs but in goods of their own production as well. Long-term previous trade contacts between the Perm population and Central and South-Eastern Asia and well-developed economy laid the groundwork for contacts with western Finns: high-level crafts, hunting, trade skills and qualified people.