The sacred economy of wild mining in the Eastern Sayan mountains of Buriatiia, South Siberia

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper is based upon ethnographic data gathered in June 2018 in Tunka valley (Eastern Sayan mountainous chain, the republic of Buriattia) and also over the long term fieldwork made by Veronika A. Belyaeva-Sachuk in this region as well as in Oka district. In particular, our research aims at examining relations between mineral resources, local illegal jade gatherers (mineral poachers), and sacred landscapes, represented by local deities, presumed to be active agents of local economic relations and lords of natural resources. We argue here that wild mining is articulated by systematic relations and networks with non-human agents which we discuss here as sacred economy. The latter operates in local societies via types of dialogue between local dwellers and non-human actors which is approached here as sacred capital and investment into local socio-economic development. By represented ethnography we stress the concept of rationality as a basis for economic relations relevant for the Western world and thought. We argue that rational is not the pure principal of human action in economic relations; yet, it is culturally dependent process and product. We do not imply that economic relations are irrational, indeed they are. We discuss here that rational behavior is culturally modified and what is rational for a particular locality or society cannot be simply exported onto another one. Finally, global market is also driven by numerous cultural needs and networks, and operates via histories of various local relations including non-human agentive forces we might easily ignore as a crucial part of typically expected rational directions of economical actors.