The Kuchumovichi in Tara’s Cis-Irtysh Region and Stor­ming the City of Tara in 1634

Abstract

Research objectives: To discuss one of the key episodes of Kuchumovichi’s activity aimed at restoring the Khanate of Sibir – the assault on the city of Tara in 1634 – on the basis of a comprehensive archaeological-historical approach. Research materials: The work is based on the integrated use of written and archaeological sources. On the one hand, a reconstruction of the assaults of the city in 1634 is made on the basis of archaeological collections and materials obtained during the excavation of the burg part of the city of Tara, which can be interpreted as evidence of this event. On the other hand, the reports of the Tara’s voivods and other documents are used. Results and novelty of the research: Archaeological research has made it possible to reconstruct the details of the assaults (on September 12 and October 12, 1634), the location and size of the breach in the burg wall, the subsequent retreat of the attackers, and the location of battles during the sorties of the garrison. Bone and iron arrowheads, lead bullets found during the excavations, as well as traces of the fire that partially destroyed the city in the autumn of 1634, represent the traces of these battles. After that year, the Kuchumovichi continued their active struggle, but there were no further storms and sieges of Tara. In fact, this was the last assault on a Russian city in Western Siberia.