ONCE AGAIN ABOUT BUDDHISM IN THE GOLDEN HORDE

Abstract

Abstract. The article is devoted to the analysis of the archaeological remains of three adobe structures, explored in different years at the burial ground «Mayachny Bugor» in the Astrakhan region. They are interesting in the light of considering the problem of studying the archaeological traces of the presence of Buddhism in the Golden Horde. V.P. Kostyukov offered a list of the main features inherent in Buddhist burials, emphasizing that the «Mayachny Bugor» is one of the most studied necropolises, which contain burials with signs of Buddhism. Two of the structures discovered at the burial ground were square adobe buildings, in one of which the remains of cremation were found on the side with burnt seeds of cultivated plants. A coin was found next to the second one - one of the earliest in the Ulus of Jochi. The third building had a complex structure - the rectangular main building with traces of calcination inside was adjoined from the south, east and north by burials in crypts, which contained rich inventory. The building stood in the center of a site fenced with a mud wall, on which 11 burials were found, the deceased in which were oriented with their heads to the east. The article suggests that these buildings are associated with the culture of Buddhism due to the presence of Buddhist burials in the burial ground. Comparative analysis shows the proximity of the described buildings to stupas-suburgams. It is possible that the remains of architectural structures on «Mayachny Bugor» are the foundations of Buddhist stupas.

The research materials were the results of excavations at the soil burial ground «Mayachny Bugor», which is the remains of the urban necropolis of the Krasny Yar settlement of the Golden Horde era. On the «Mayachny Bugor» stands out the early part of the necropolis, which dates from the coin finds in the burials of the beginning - the first quarter of the XIV century. Burials were made in compliance with a number of specific requirements characteristic of the Buddhist funeral rite. It was in the earliest part of the necropolis that the remains of several structures made of mud bricks were found, three of which, the best preserved, are described in the article. With the help of the comparative method, general and special features of the structures were identified. Historical and archaeological links were established using the historical and comparative method. Chronological attribution was carried out using the relative dating of the burial complexes according to numismatic materials. The study used archival materials and field reports on archaeological research, as well as analytical work of researchers who addressed the topic of the presence of Buddhism in the Golden Horde.

For citation: Vasiliev D.V. Once again about buddhism in the Golden Horde // MUSEUM.KZ. 2023. № 2 (1), рр. 120-126. DOI 10.59103/muzkz.2023.02.12