Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 44 (4) 2016   DOI: 10.17746/1563-0110.2016.44.4.131-140

Annotation:  The Middle Paleolithic of Arabia Archaeological Sites as Markers of Neopleistocene-Holocene Hydrological System Transformation in the The Engraved Stone Pendant from Poiana Ciresului-Piatra Neamt, Romania. New Contributions to the Und Tentative Findings from Excavations on Suchu Island, Amur (1973 Season, Excavation I) Portable Sculptures from Neolithic and Bronze Age Habitation Sites near Lake Baikal The Morphology of Bronze and Early Iron Age Celts from Siberia Remains of Tapestry from a Xiongnu (Early 1st Century AD) Burial in Mound 22 at Noin-Ula Chinese Lacquer Cup from the “Golden Man” Tomb at Bugry, Northern Altai A Runic Inscription at Kalbak-Tash II, Central Altai, with Reference to the Location of the Az Tribe An Old Turkic Statue at Borili, Ulytau Hills, Central Kazakhstan: Cultural Realia Prospection Studies of Bohai Graves Near Kraskinskoye Fortifi ed Settlement, Primorsky Krai Burials Dating to the Migration Period in Western Siberia The Arctic Nomads: Strategies of Mobility A Genetic Analysis of Human Remains from the Bronze Age (2nd Millennium BC) Cemetery Bertek-56 in th   

The Arctic Nomads: Strategies of Mobility

A.V. Golovnev

Institute of History and Archaeology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, S. Kovalevskoi 16, Yekaterinburg, 620990, Russia

The research focuses on the Chukotka, Yamal, and Kola peninsulas––the three source areas of Arctic reindeerherding nomadism. The method of recording movement, termed TMA (tracking–mapping–acting), reveals a multidimensional pattern of nomadic movement with peaks and pauses, personal and social trajectories. The comparison of tracks shows that in contrast to ordinary reindeer-herders, leaders perform more complex and extended maneuvers for surveying vicinities, evaluating the situation, and specifying next steps. Three “close-ups” of leaders demonstrate their dense activity-patterns, covering natural and social environment and ensuring control over territory, reindeer, the nomadic community, external contacts, and threat prevention. In terms of spatial control and movement, herders practice different styles such as “circular” (Chukotka), “migratory” (Yamal), and “fenced” (Kola). In all three tundras, key roles belong to infl uential leaders whose experience and energy are the backbone of reindeer-herding. In turn, the leaders argue that husbandry is ineffi cient without authoritarian control, although they widely use social (including kin) ties in their strategies. Nomads and their leaders rely upon traditions, but are open to innovations. Reindeer symbolize the identity of Arctic nomadic cultures, since herding provides autonomy in subsistence, movement, and communication. However, traditional technologies of life-in-motion can be seen as valuable resources for present-day Arctic strategies.

Keywords: Mobility, nomads, leaders, strategies, movement, Arctic, Chukchi, Nenets, Saami, Izhma-Komi

REFERENCES

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Golovnev A.V., Lezova S.V., Abramov I.V., Belorussova S.Y., Babenkova N.A. 2014 Etnoekspertiza na Yamale: Nenetskiye kochevya i gazovye mestorozhdeniya. Yekaterinburg: Izd. AMB.

Istomin K.V. 2015 Kochevaya mobilnost komi-izhemskikh olenevodov: Snegokhodnaya revolyutsiya i rynochnaya restavratsiya. Uralskiy istoricheskiy vestnik, No. 2 (47): 17–25.