2026/3(46)

Contents

HISTORICAL RESEARCH

Filin P.

Jan Huyghen van Linschoten, the search for the Northeast Passage and Russian maritime culture in the late 16th century

APPLIED RESEARCH

Bychkova O.

Role of popular science tourism infrastructure in the popularization and preservation of scientific and technical heritage

Zinovieva N.

Network culture in the context of two approaches to research issues

Kovbasyuk T.

Significant extension to an existing property on the example of the World Heritage site ‘White monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal

Kostina N.

Methodological approaches to working with the cultural heritage of the region in the context of the cultural and educational policy of modern Russia

Khilko N.

Objectification as a form of digital reconstruction of lost cultural heritage in the urban environment of tourist sites Western Siberia

INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

Kitov Yu., Egorova M.

Genesis and development of Evenki circle dances as a cultural phenomenon of historical and modern Yakutia

CULTURAL HERITAGE STUDIES

Kukhterin S., Yermolov E. 

Karbas of the 17th century. An Oransky find on the coast of Novaya Zemlya

Okorokov A.

40 years of the Marine Arctic Complex Expedition of the Heritage Institute

Seleznev A.

Shamanic ladder in the Muslim cemetery: to the semantics of the ornamented on-grave posts of the Tobol-Irtysh Tatars

Selezneva S.

Identification of immovable cultural heritage objects in Russia: conceptual, regulatory and regional aspects

HERITAGE PRESERVATION

Soloviev A., Berezina N.

International and foreign models for the preservation of immovable cultural heritage: a comparative legal and cultural analysis

Spivak D.

Cultural heritage in actual UNESCO strategy

MUSEOLOGY

Pleshchenko V.

The corporate museum as a tool for preserving the history and accumulating the business reputation of the company

Sarkisova E.

School as a center for the preservation of cultural heritage: from the experience of cultural and educational activities of school museums

Publ. 18/09/2026

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 media
registration:
ЭЛ № ФС 77–60211,
date: 17.12.2014

Frequency

4 issues per year

Published on-line only

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