Archaeological studies on the Selitrennoye settlement in the Astrakhan Region
The Selitrennoye settlement is the object of cultural heritage of federal significance, which is the remains of Sarai city – the capital of the Golden Horde (Ulus of Jochi), located on the bank of the Akhtuba river in the Kharabali district of the Astrakhan Region. Selitrennoye settlement is the largest archaeological site of the Golden Horde period on the territory of Eurasia.
In 2022 studies on the Seliytennoye settlement were continued within the framework of the State Program of the Republic of Tatarstan “Preservation of the national identity of the Tatar people (2020-2024)”. The works are also supported by the Foundation “History of the Fatherland”.
Specialists and students of the Institute of Archaeology named after A.H. Khalikov of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences and the Mari State University took part in the expedition. Supervisors of works – Doctor of historical sciences Yu.A. Zeleneev, Candidate of historical sciences Ye.M. Pigarev.
During the research in 2022 the study of the manor house of the owner of the glassmaking workshop on the area over 190 m2 was continued. The eastern and southern boundaries of the manor house were determined, the interior rooms were studied.
The collection of objects obtained during the research consists of numerous glassware; items made of bone and iron; fragments of ceramics of local and imported production. The numismatic collection includes more than 60 copper and silver coins. Among the total mass of finds it is possible to note rare for a Selitrennoye settlement a bone handle with an incised ornament, a wooden ornamented hair slide, a gold tube bead , a fragment of the vessel wall with an arabographic inscription, a silver dirhem of Aziz-Sheikh khan, copper ornamented jewelry. Further studies are planned in the 2023 field season.
