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The Ethnology Notebooks. 2024. № 3 (177),  571—583

UDK [94:639.1](477-18)”13/16″

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/nz2024.03.571

HUNTING OF THE ABORIGINES OF THE NORTH LAND

BALUSHOK Vasyl

  • ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1362-8270
  • PhD in History, Senior Research Fellow,
  • Maksym Rylskyi Institute of Art Studies,
  • Folklore Studies and Ethnology,
  • National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine,
  • 4, Hrushevskoho str., 01001, Kyiv, Ukraine,
  • Contacts: e-mail: grigras@i.ua

Abstract. Introduction. Although the main branch of economy of the Sevryuks, the aborigines of the Siver region, was agriculture, hunting was one of their important occupations in the 14th—17th centuries. This was due to the richness of the hunting grounds of the region. Study Purpose: to investigate hunting among the Sevryuks.

Study Methods: the article is a study of historical anthropology and the history of everyday life, and the author belongs to the followers of the concept of the adaptive role of culture of neoevolutionists. Results. Feudal grants in the Seversky land included hunting grounds (beaver banks, beaver hony). In the feudal economy, special catchers (lovtsi) were known among dependent people, and Lovchi was organized by hunters. The Sevryuks paid tribute to fur, especially beaver fur. Beavers, martens, stoats, ferrets, squirrels, and otters were hunted for fur. For meat and skins, ungulates were hunted: moose, deer, roe deer, wild boars, bison, and bears. Wild horses — forest and steppe tarpans were caught for domestication, as well as for meat and skins, with the help of domestic horses. From birds, they hunted ducks, geese, cranes, swans, capercaillie, grouse, black grouse, sparrowhawks, and partridges. During the nesting season, eggs were collected from duck, goose, and swan nests. And chicks were taken from the nests of hawks, eagles and falcons to raise birds of prey.

Falconry was one of the favorite activities of princes and high-ranking officials, so falconry nests in feudal estates were registered. Hunting tools were: bows and arrows, spears, occasionally firearms, as well as hunting pits, traps (rozhen, pokolodva) and hunting nets (perevisy).

The cities were of different structures: specifically for catching birds, hares, and ungulates. Hunting dogs were also used.

Conclusion. Although the reconstructed picture of the hunting industry among the Sevryuks depicts its richness and extensiveness, it still needs further study.

Keywords: hunting, hunters, fur animals, ungulates, birds, traps, nets.

Received 10.05.2024

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