New Archaeozoological Studies of Medieval Bilyar

The paper discusses a new study of fi sh and bird remains from excavation XLIV of Bilyar fortifi ed settlement, founded in order to study a large brick building located in the so-called “Inner City” – the part of the settlement with the highest status. The aim of the study was a comprehensive analysis of faunal remains extracted from the cultural layer using the method of layer-by-layer sampling and sieving. On the basis of bone remains and scales, a total 23 fi sh species were identifi ed with predominant remains of large species: Starred sturgeon, Zander, Sterlet and Whitefi sh. The predominance of large species indicates that fi shery was practiced on the Volga and Kama rivers, and the bulk of the fi sh consumed at the site was imported. The species composition of birds is high and diverse – 40 species of wild and 3 species of domestic birds with predominant domestic chicken. Of interest among wild birds are the finds of skeleton fragments of the birds of prey of the Accipitriformes and Falconiformes order, which indicates the presence of falconry in the area, and its high social status

Medieval surroundings of the Bilyar: concerning the method of research in the settlement pattern and resources potentiality

The article analyzes the principal concepts and methodological developments, which make it possible to define the territorial and chronological study boundaries of the medieval Bilyar city neighborhood. Based upon a complex mapping of monuments, a territorial framework of the study has been defined, which allows reflecting the dynamics of the historical processes in the 10th through to 15th centuries at all historical stages of the existence of Bilyar related to the functioning of state entities as Volga Bulgaria, the Bulgar Vilayet of the Juchi Ulus, and the Kazan Khanate. For the territory defined, the author's method of research in the spatial features of settlement pattern and resource potential evaluation of Bilyar environs has been provided. This approach consists in taking into account the various natural and social factors that had influenced the economic and demographic indicators of the area

Research activity by National Center of Archaeological studies of Institute of History of Tatarstan Academy of Sciences in 2013

The work of the National Center for Archaeological Studies named after A.Sh. Khalikov with the Institute of History named after Sh Mardjani of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan (NCAS) in 2013 was conducted within three Departments: prehistoric and medieval archaeology, conservation studies, and a bioarchaeological laboratory. The basic problems were: “Archaeology of the ancient population of the Volga-Kama: the formation and interaction of cultures”; “Medieval Turkic-Tatar civilization: the emergence, development, interaction with the peoples of Eurasia”; “Anthropology and genetics of the ancient population of the Middle Volga region”. Within the project on “Geographic information systems of Tatarstan archaeological heritage”, preparatory works for monitoring of the condition of cultural heritage objects located in the Kuibyshev and Nizhnekamsk reservoirs zones of influence were conducted. Archaeological fieldwork was conducted in the framework of the Primitive, Early Bulgar, Kazan, Bulgar, Lower Volga, Sviyazhsk archaeological expeditions and Preservation and salvation expedition in the area of Nizhnekamsk and Kuibyshev reservoirs. Beyond the Republic of Tatarstan, exploratory research was conducted in the territory of the Chuvash and Mordovian republics, Ulyanovsk and Samara Oblasts. The study of monuments in the Lower Volga region continued in collaboration with colleagues from the Astrakhan Oblast and the Republic of Mari El. Joint international archaeological research was carried out in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and Ukraine. 5 conferences were organized, including 4 international ones. The NCAS staff participated in 16 conferences, including 11 international ones. 2 Doctor habilitatus and 3 Doctor’s theses were defended. 5 collections of articles and theses, and 4 issues of the “Privolzhskaya arkheologiya” (Volga region archaeology) were published. The NCAS staff prepared 216 publications, including 6 monographs. The “City of Bolghar” atlas deserves special mention: it is an academic work summarizing the research of archaeologists of the Republic of Tatarstan for many decades and their studies of the versatile problems of the Golden Horde civilization formation and development

Proceedings of the 8th International Scientific Conference “Dialogue of Urban And Steppe Cultures in the Eurasian Space” Dedicated to the Memory of G.А. Fedorov-Davydov

The article presents a brief overview of the proceedings of the 8th International Scientific Conference “Dialogue of Urban and Steppe Cultures in the Eurasian Space” held on September 20–25, 2018 in Pyatigorsk and Praskoveya village in Stavropol of the Russian Federation. The topics of the International Scientific Conference dedicated to the memory of G.А. Fedorov-Davydov covered a wide range of issues on historical geography, characteristics of the material culture and technological impulses of relations between the cultures and civilizations of the Mongol Empire and the Golden Horde. The second series of issues was related to a systematic study of Bolgar settlement and the general activities of the Bolgar Archaeological Expedition. Particular attention was paid to interdisciplinary studies conducted within the framework of the complex project “The Ancient Town of Bolgar and the Island Town of Sviyazhsk” implemented in 2010–2018. The third series of discussed issues was associated with the particular features of the establishment of urban settlements in steppe Eurasia related to topography characteristics and localization of archaeological sites. The issues of the continuity of medieval cultural traditions were considered

Comprehensive Studies by Bilyar Archaeological Expedition

The paper features a summary of the comprehensive studies of archaeological sites in the largest medieval urban centre of the pre-Mongol Volga Bolgaria – Bilyar (the Great Town) and its neighbouring areas. The article features the results of studies conducted over the last decade, which were intended to reconstruct the evolution of the landscape development system in the developed medieval period on the basis of GIS analysis. A thorough study of medieval fortified settlements was carried out by the authors with the aid of instrumental surveying and compilation of detailed topographic maps, as well as the updating of information from previous studies. These works contribute to the state registration and protection of cultural heritage sites in the neighbouring area of Bilyar district and the museumified ruins in the territory of Bilyar settlement. The authors summarize the results of application of remote sensing methods. In particular, such methods include the analysis of aerial, space and geophysical photography, their verification by archaeological methods (explorations and excavations), and the creation of three-dimensional models

50th Anniversary of Nail Gatiatullovich Nabiullin

The article is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of a renowned archaeologist, Candidate of Historical Sciences and senior research associate of the Institute of Archaeology of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences Nail Gatiatullovich Nabiullin. The main works by the scientist are dedicated to the archaeology of the 10th – 14th century town of Juketau and the medieval sites located in the area. N.G. Nabiullin explored the ruins of a white stone building within the complex of the Khan's yard dated the second half of the 16th century, Taynitskaya and Pyatigrannaya towers and other sites located in the territory of Kazan Kremlin

On the main results of scientific activities in 2014 by the Institute of Archaeology named after A.Kh. Khalikov of Tatarstan Academy of Sciences

The scientific research activities performed in 2014 by the Institute of Archaeology named after A.Kh. Khalikov, Tatarstan Academy of Sciences, covered a wide range of fundamental and applied research related to the implementation of various programs and projects in the field of research and preservation of the historical and cultural heritage of the peoples of Tatarstan, Russia, and Eurasia as a whole. The following priority research directions have been formulated as follows: “Archaeology of ancient Volga-Kama region population: formation and interaction of cultures” for the Department of prehistoric archaeology, and “Medieval Turkic-Tatar civilization: its emergence, development, and interaction with the peoples of Eurasia” for the Department of medieval archaeology. These are based upon up-to-date principles of interdisciplinary research conducted in close cooperation with leading research centers, institutions of higher education, state and corporate entities of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Russian Federation and foreign countries

On Fortification of “The Great City” of Bilyar

The article offers results of the archaeological study of fortifi cations on the Bilyar fortifi ed settlement – the capital of the Volga Bulgaria in pre-Mongol time. Its defensive structures represent complex systems of walls, ditches and wooden fortifi cations set in several lines. Two main lines of defense were studied: the external and the internal cities. The external belt of defense of the settlement consists of three parallel rows of walls and ditches and was erected in three construction periods. The internal line of defense consists of two rows of walls and ditches, and the study revealed traces of four stages of construction there. All stages of defense works in Bilyar chronologically fi t within the fi rst half of 10th – early 13th centuries

65th Anniversary of Fayaz Sharipovich Khuzin

Fayaz Sh. Khusin, a well-known specialist in medieval archaeology, Doctor of Historical Sciences, turned 65 in August 2016. The article offers some a few landmarks in his biography and scientific activities. His primary academic interests were: archaeology and history of the Volga Bulgaria, Jochi’s Ulus and Kazan Khanate. His research of Bilyar fortified settlement and Kazan Kremlin deserves special attention. Recently, Fayaz Sh. Khusin has addressed some more general issues of archaeology and history of the Tatars’ ancestors, starting from the early Iron Age, and their role in shaping the ethno-cultural space in the Volga-Ural region. He also actively contributes to protection of historical and cultural sites in Tatarstan. Doctor Khuzin has authored over 600 scientific and popular-scientific works, textbooks and manuals, including about 30 books and monographs, and has edited over 60 scientific editions. He has been the chief editor of the “Povolzhskaya arkheologia” (“Volga River Region Archaeology”) since its foundation (2012)