2025/4(43)
Contents
BASIC RESEARCH
The value matrix of national cultureas the basis for the formation
of a system of cultural heritage objects
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
In memory of rear admiral
Viktor Ananyevich Dygalo,
a participant in the Great Patriotic war and Victory Day Parade 1945
Member of the Moscow archaeological society,
the moskvoved M.I.Alexandrovsky (1865–1943) – biography and scientific heritage (based on the materials from the State Historical Museum and the Russian State Library)
Image of the Great Victory
in the spatial-symbolic structure
of the cities of Western Siberia
Military discipline in the system
of military education of servicemen of the Russian army in 1855-1914
Family Service as a Contribution
to Russia’s Historical and Cultural Heritage
MARINE CULTURAL HERITAGE
Program “Memory of the Russian Arctic” of the Marine Arctic Complex Expedition at the Natural Heritage: concept, implementation, prospects
Search for the vessel Willem Barents. Results of the expeditions of the Russian Geographical Society and the Ministry of Defense
of Russia to survey Severny Island
of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago
in 2024 and 2025
INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
Symphonic creativity in Abkhazia: socio-cultural aspect
RUSSIAN FOREIGN HERITAGE
Architecture of Alaskan Orthodox Churches
CULTURAL HERITAGE STUDIES
Historical-navigational experiment: theory, methodology, practice
Ornamented on-grave posts
of the Tobol-Irtysh Tatars:
interpretation of cultural heritage
Problems of studying and preserving domestic antiquities in the last quarter of the 19th century
in the letters from the members
of the Moscow Archaeological Society in the funds
of the State Historical Museum
MUSEOLOGY
Cultural cooperation between Vietnam and Russia in the museum studies in Vietnam (1991–2025)
Publ. 26/11/2025
Archives
DOI 10.34685/HI.2025.79.99.006
Seleznev A., Selezneva I.
Ornamented on-grave posts of the Tobol-Irtysh Tatars:
interpretation of cultural heritage
Abstract. The article examines the problems of historical and cultural relations and semantics of carved wooden ornamented on-graved posts of the Tobol-Irtysh Tatars. These constructions are spread in the Irtysh River basin in the north of Omsk and in the south of Tyumen regions. The semantics of the on-grave posts tops decoration is discussed in the paper. The sharp form of the pommel symbolized a spear (arrow) and marked the male graves. The flattened crown-form finials were called combs and associated with female burials. Comparative ethnographic and archaeological materials borrow a wide spread of similar ideas about gender differentiation in various traditions. Sharp-pointed heads are the specific feature of male characters in the ritual sculpture of the Uralic language family peoples. The spear-signs on the burials of various groups of Siberian Tatars have parallels in the construction of tugs – pillars or poles marking the locations of Muslim sanctuaries-mazars in Central Asia. This tradition is associated with the custom of sticking spears on men's graves spread among a number Turkic-speaking peoples of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. The comb symbolism is usually associated with the feminine and erotic surrounding. The relevant ethnographic and archaeological materials are given in the work. Of particular interest are analogies with the images of combs on the female burials carved stone tombstone steles in the North Caucasus. At the same time, the set of objects depicted on the male tombstones included edged weapon of the piercing type. The conclusion is substantiated that the ornamented on-grave posts are the important factor of local identity and cultural heritage object.
Keywords: ornamented on-grave posts, Tobol-Irtysh Tatars, semantics, male and female images, Western Siberia.
Seleznev Alexander Gennadievich,
PhD in History, Associate Professor,
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography
at the Siberian Branch RAS (Novosibirsk)
Email: seleznev@myttk.ru
Selezneva Irina Alexandrovna,
PhD in History, Associate Professor,
Siberian Branch of the Likhachev Russian
Research Institute for Cultural
and Natural Heritage (Omsk)
Email: ir_selez@mail.ru
Published: The Heritage Institute Journal, 2025/4(43)
URL: http://nasledie-journal.ru/en/journals/812.html
Founder
Likhachev Russian Research
Institute for Cultural
and Natural Heritage
Publisher
Likhachev Russian Research
Institute for Cultural
and Natural Heritage
Certificate
of the Mass information mediaregistration:
ЭЛ № ФС 77–60211,
date: 17.12.2014
Frequency
4 issues per year
Published on-line only
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