THE ISSUE OF CHARACTERIZATION OF MEDIEVAL CULTURES IN THE URAL-VOLGA REGION

Abstract

The article considers the characteristics and interactions between the medieval cultures of the Ural-Volga region. The region was infl uenced by all landmark events in Eurasia, which refl ected in the cultures emerging in the area and migrations thereof. Of particular signifi cance is the archaeological confi rmation of the Ugric cultures on the basis of large-scale excavations which began in the 1960-1970s at pagan burial grounds of the early Volga Bolgaria period. As a result of studies and analysis of obtained material, it was established that the Ugric tribes, primarily of the Mansi circle, populated the vast territory of the Great Urals and the Volga-Kama region. After many years of interactions with Volga Bolgaria, they constituted a signifi cant portion of its population. It has also been determined that the Nevolinskaya, Lomovatovskaya and Polomskaya cultures of the Kama region previously associated with the Finns were in fact of the Ugric origin. In the 10th-11th centuries they were superseded by the Chepetskaya and Rodanovskaya cultures of the Udmurt and Komi ancestors having migrated to the East as a result of oppression by Rus.