Issues of Researching the Modern-Time Sites of the Tom River Basin

Abstract

The present research deals with methodical and methodological issues of the study of post-Medieval archaeological sites. The paper focuses on the features of related field and research lab work. The author believes that archeology plays an accessory role in Modern-Time studies, which was a period of radical changes in the demographic and a political situation of Siberia. These conditions triggered the development of new socio-territorial groups, which became involved in the globalization process. Therefore, regional historical problems can be resolved only taking into account a broad historical background. The postMedieval archeology can significantly expand the range of sources for historians and ethnographers. However, the approach requires interdisciplinary interaction. Post-Medieval archeology can be successful only if it solves the tasks formulated by historians. The author proposes a comprehensive program for the accumulation and analysis of archaeological materials. The paper features the case of Modern-Time sites of the Tom River basin, namely the transformation of cultural complexes of the indigenous inhabitants of the Tom River basin in the XVII–XVIII centuries. This process was affected by various groups of Russian settlers and some Sayan-Altai ethnic groups. Therefore, the area of interest of archeology of the Modern Time is wider than "the Russian archeology" that developed in the recent years. As a result, post-Medieval archeology programs require a new methodical and methodological apparatus for scientific research and personnel training.