“Spot” archaeological studies in the research on history of city (based on materials of excavations in Tyumen in 2006)

Abstract

In historical cities, the cultural layer takes an important place in providing research in humanities with new sources of a wide spectrum. The purpose of this article is to introduce the results of excavations in 2006 during the construction of a shopping and entertainment mall on Lenin Street with an area of 58 m2, located on the slope of a ravine near the building of the museum of local lore, that is, on the periphery of the borders of historical Tyumen. Large area of the excavation was crosscut by late housing development, which casted doubts on the possibility of discovery of undisturbed objects at the site. As a result of carried out research, the remains of four buildings located along the edge of the ravine were examined. Within the layer, tools informative on activities of inhabitants of the buildings were discovered. Pottery and clothing finds from intact layers date back to the 17th century. Despite the small area of the examined cultural layer, valuable information has been obtained about the beginning of living of citizens, their adaptation to new conditions and remarkable survival. Residents of the city used, for economic purposes, objects made of bone, birch bark, broken glass, fragments of which show traces of secondary use as a strickle, scraper, and polisher. Also found were objects documenting their cultural contacts with the local population (arrowhead, bead). The effectiveness of the study shows that the practice of analysis of the cultural layer is necessary for all construction works in the historical areas of the city. In Tyumen, the system of “spot” excavations is the only way to avoid losing valuable sources related to the research of the early history of the city.

Keywords

• tyumen
• cultural layer
• 17th–18th centuries
• rescue excavations
• residential development