Vasily N. Tatishchev and Golden Horde Monuments of the North Caucasus

Abstract

The article presents insufficiently studied aspects of endeavors tackled by V. N. Tatishchev (1786-1750). His contribution to the study of antiquities in the Urals and Siberia is commonly accepted but his efforts on the research of Golden Horde monuments in the Lower Volga and North Caucasus were never decently appreciated. A prominent government official to have held different positions, he had been collecting materials for works on Russia's history and geography since 1720. He made the preparation of maps ('Landkarten') and drawings to be a prerequisite for any historical research. Materials and methods. The study analyzes works by Vasily N. Tatishchev, his epistolary heritage, maps - both published and archival ones. The employed research methods include historical systemic, comparative and cartographic ones. Results. When holding the office of Astrakhan Governor from 1741 to 1745, he initiated a mapping of ruins of Golden Horde towns in the Lower Volga. In July of 1742, he arranged an expedition to Majar in the North Caucasus. The latter included engineering corps conductor A. Golokhvostov, painting apprentice M. Nekrasov, and twenty Cossacks. The participants made three drawings of Majar, several townscapes of Kizlyar and Braguny village which were sent by V. N. Tatishchev to Petersburg. In 1743, he requested the Senate to dispatch two land surveyors. S. Chichagov and S. Shchelkov arrived in the summer of 1744 to further prepare about seventy five maps including those of Greater and Minor Kabardia which were found and published in 2009 by E. Gusarova. The research materials of 1742 and 1744 were presented by Vasily N. Tatishchev in his Russian History that mentions the towns of Majar, Tatartup, and 'Yulat' (i.e. Julat located on the ancient site referred to as Nizhny Julat). Conclusions. The works of 1742 were pursuing purely scientific goals, while those of 1744 were to meet mainly operative needs. So, the available materials make it possible to recognize Vasily N. Tatishchev as an organizer of earliest explorations of Golden Horde monuments in the North Caucasus, such as sites of ancient Majar, Nizhny Julat, and Verkhny Dzhulat (Tatartup). Vasily N. Tatishchev's resignation from the office of Astrakhan Governor in 1745 suspended academic investigation of monuments in the Lower Volga and North Caucasus. It is necessary to continue the search of archival materials dealing with the topic.