Russian Wooden Forts on the Amur River Region in the XVII Century: place in history and historical memory

Abstract

This paper is based on archival sources and materials of archaeological studies of recent decades in the Upper Amur River region. The author gives the history of the construction of Russian wooden forts on the banks of the Amur in the 2 half of the XVII century. Special attention is paid to the role of forts as military outposts for the development of the territory, as well as centers of economic life of the population. There are two stages in the history of the forts – from 1643 to 1658 and from 1665 to 1689. The article reveals the modern state of the study and reconstruction of forts. Since the 2 half of the XIX century, information about forts of the XVII century becomes not only the subject of archaeological and historical studies, but also a source of the mythology of history. The history of the Amur forts is one of the most important foundations of the historical memory of the development of the Far East, support of patriotism and pride in the history of Russia, an example of the courage and heroism.

Keywords

• archaeology
• fort
• middle ages
• far east
• amur region
• fortification
• historical memory
• identity