TRANSFORMATION OF FORTIFICATIONS FROM ANCIENT HILLFORTS TO THE FIRST RUSSIAN TOWNS OF THE TRANS-URALS: THE SEARCH FOR THE ORIGIN OF URBANIZATION

Abstract

In this article, a hypothesis of the origin and development of hillforts, proto-towns and urban structures in the Trans-Urals is proposed from the perspective of the search for the origins of urbanization. Archaeological materials of the forest-steppe zone of the Trans-Urals allow us to trace the transformation of fortifications from the origin of hillforts at the end of the 2nd millennium BC, to the appearance of the first Russian military, political, administrative, trade, craft and cultural centers of the Siberian region. The following factors influenced the origin and development of hillforts, prototowns and towns: climatic and related to it migration factor, which created social tension in the society; social-economic, which stimulated the stratification of the society, trade, exchange, craft, and potestary, which prompted the formation of administrative and managerial centres in towns. Proto-towns and the first cities in ancient and medieval societies were the centers of the emergence and transmission of cultural innovations and determined the development of the region as a whole.

Keywords

• trans-urals
• fortification
• hillfort
• proto-city
• urban structures
• urbanization