Settlement Network of Siberian Tatars in Lower Ishim River and Adjacent Areas along Irtysh River in Modern Times

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive characterization of the settlement network of the Siberian Tatars in the Sargatsky District of the Tar region, focusing on the lower reaches of the Ishim River and upstream along the Irtysh River during the 18th century. The research draws upon a variety of sources, including published written documents from the turn of the 17th to 18th centuries, archival records, lists of populated areas, demographic studies, scholarly works, and field ethnographic and archaeological materials. The study addresses key aspects of the history of these settlements, including their locations, population sizes, ethnic compositions, and types of settlements. The findings indicate that the territory inhabited by this group of Siberian Tatars can be divided into three sub-regions: (1) The area near the mouth of the Ishim River, which housed the central settlement of the group, was permanent and fortified. Following the construction of the Ishim fort by the Russian state, the Tatars continued to reside nearby. The concentration of summer settlements in this area was high due to favorable landscapes for pastoralism and fishing. (2) The lower reaches of the Ishim River initially served as lands for the Tatars of the Ishim fort and their seasonal encampments. Permanent settlements began to emerge here between 1701 and 1763. (3) Upstream along the Irtysh River from the Ishim fort were also some of the oldest settlements of this group, known since the early 17th to early 18th centuries. It is reported that during the first third of the 18th century, most of these settlements had seasonal encampments. The authors assert that the settlement network in this area was established by the end of the 18th century.