History of The Kharkov Udy Region in the Golden Horde Period

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the analysis of archaeological monuments of the Golden Horde period discovered in the Kharkov region (Ukraine) in the basin of the Udy River (the Udy region). The authors present consolidated information published in scientific literature concerning the monetary hoards of the Golden Horde period discovered in the Kharkov region and the settlements dating back to the same period. The article also features mapping and localization analysis of the sites. The fact that the hoards and settlements of the Golden Horde period are concentrated in the Udy region, which is especially evident in view of the almost complete absence of synchronous sites in other microregions of the Kharkiv region, is accounted for by a significant transit trade route passing through the area at the time, which linked the town of Azaq (located at the crossroads of international Eurasian trade) with the Middle Dnieper region, further linking the area with the western and northern worlds, On the basis of an analysis of numismatic and archaeological data, the authors reconstruct the history of the studied territory in the second half of 13th – first quarter of 15th centuries, particularly the dynamics of the operation of the trade route and the associated infrastructure. Besides, the article outlines the promising directions and tasks for further studies.

Keywords

• archaeology
• numismatics
• basin of the Udy river (the Udy region)
• Golden Horde
• trade routes
• coin hoards