CRAFT AREAS OF THE GOLDEN HORDE BOLGAR: AN ATTEMPT AT LOCALIZATION

Abstract

Localization of locations and concentration of crafts allows us to talk not only about the social topography of the city, but also to determine the principles of the organization of urban space. At this stage of archaeological research on the territory of the Golden Horde Bolgar, three major handicraft areas are associated with: 1) iron production and processing, 2) copper-foundry and jewelry production, 3) pottery. These industries occupy vast territories to the west and southwest of the city center of the Golden Horde Bolgar formed near the Cathedral Mosque. Copper foundry and jewelry production are concentrated in the space from the Cathedral Mosque in the east, to the line of defensive fortifi cations of the pre-Mongolian period. Further, to the west and south-west there are complexes (mines) associated with ferrous metallurgy and iron processing. To the south-west of the metallurgical complexes in the fi rst half of the XIV century in the district of the Gollandskoe Lake there is a formation of a region associated with pottery production. In addition, on the territory of Bolgar identifi ed areas on which recorded the presence of glass, leather and bone carving crafts. In many respects the situation with the "zonal region" of Bolgar, which was formed in the second half of the 13th century, remains unclear and functioned until the 60–70's XIV century on the right bank of the Melenka River. There are also areas of pottery and metallurgy workshops.