Anyushkar settlement: tasks and prospects of new research

Abstract

Anyushkar settlement is one of the most famous and best–excavated archaeological sites in the
Perm Region and the only one whose name is known thanks to the traditions of the Permian Komi. It rises on the shore of the Kama reservoir near the village of Kylasovo, and is a very picturesque and iconic place. It is an ancient settlement that occupied an advantageous strategic position near the confluence of the river. During its heyday, the village of Inva in Kama was a Bulgarian trade and craft trading post. The presence of a Muslim burial ground testifies to the residence of the Bulgars here. A variety of craft workshops, dwellings, and defensive structures have been studied at the settlement. During the excavations, rich and expressive materials were collected, testifying to the
peculiarities of the way of life, economic and industrial activities of the inhabitants of the settlement, and their cultural and economic ties. However, the results of its research have received little publication coverage, and the materials obtained have remained unpublished. Since 2024, the settlement has been the object of research by the Institute of Humanitarian Studies, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Firstly, the monument requires urgent rescue operations, as it is rapidly being destroyed by the reservoir. Secondly, it requires clarifying some of the conclusions made by previous researchers, taking into account new knowledge and techniques, using an interdisciplinary approach. The continuation of the research is also due to the fact that the technology of medieval crafts remains a priority area in the research of archaeologists of the Institute of Humanitarian Studies, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Anyushkar can provide a lot of additional data for the development of this topic. The ultimate goal is to collect disparate data on previous studies, supplement them with new information to prepare a large-scale publication, which this landmark archaeological site for the Perm Region deserves.