M.P. Chernaya
Tomsk State University, Pr. Lenina 36, Tomsk, 634050, Russia
Over the last two decades, archaeological study of Russian sites in Siberia has expanded not only in scale and geography, but also in its scope. As a result, the archaeology of Russian towns in Siberia has turned into a separate fi eld of Siberian studies. Excavations of sites from the last third of the 16th century to the 19th century have had a positive impact on the public perception of historical Russian towns as an integral part of Russian historical and cultural heritage, and on the perception of historical archaeology as an invaluable source of historical knowledge. It is extremely important that this transformation in perception is gradually being acknowledged by historians, who until recently tended to monopolize historical reconstructions of Muscovy and the Russian Empire, and to consider the written sources to be self-suffi cient. Today archaeology sets up a broader framework for research into this pivotal period. This article outlines the fi ndings of archaeological excavations at old Russian sites in Siberia, juxtaposing them with the written evidence. The comparison is based on the examples of (1) localizing historical sites and providing attribution for excavated sites; (2) creating spatial models of archaeological wooden structures; and (3) reconstructing the composition of livestock through faunal remains.
