NOVOSIBIRSK STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY
The second volume of the collective monograph titled "Growth Lines: Monuments of Cultural and Historical Heritage of the Russian Border from the 16th to 18th Centuries" is set to be published in Kazan, focusing on the ostrogs and fortresses of Siberia and the Far East. Notably, chapters detailing the monuments in the Novosibirsk and Omsk regions were authored by Andrey Pavlovich Borodovsky, a professor in the NSPU Department of Theory, History of Culture, and Museology.
The forthcoming publication is being prepared by the Kazan Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography under the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, with the support of the Russian Historical Society. It features contributions from approximately 40 authors, offering insights into the current status of cultural heritage sites across 16 regions of Russia. While the first volume concentrated on the defensive systems within the European part of Russia, the second volume expands its reach to the expansive territories of Siberia and the Far East, providing in-depth descriptions of each structure. Among the contributors, Andrey Pavlovich Borodovsky did detailed accounts of the Chaus and Umrevinsk ostrogs located in the Novosibirsk region, as well as the sites along the Irtysh defensive line in southern Omsk region.
- In the early 18th century, efforts to implement the fortified line construction techniques from Eastern Europe in the Omsk region faced significant challenges and ultimately fell short. The southern part of Siberia lacked sufficient timber and manpower to build robust and extensive earthen fortifications. Nevertheless, the Irtysh line emerged as the first Siberian border, enduring for over 150 years. The new publication explores numerous defensive points along the Irtysh line and other borders of Siberia, extending all the way to the remote Bolsheretsk ostrog in Kamchatka. This book highlights the evolution of Russian statehood at the fringes of Siberia and illustrates the development of infrastructure that enabled survival during the most challenging periods of history, - stated Andrey Pavlovich.
In 2023, a series of archaeological expeditions were organized and financed to support the preparation of the book. These expeditions not only documented their findings through photography but also involved the creation of orthophotos and 3D models of various defensive structures, including mounds, watch gates, and fortresses.
- I focused my research on the Irtysh line, where we made several groundbreaking discoveries. Notably, we uncovered beacons designed for light communication between the Salt Turn redoubt and the Cherlak outpost, functioning similarly to an optical telegraph. This finding revealed that these two fortifications operated as a 'communication cluster,' aligning with information from a 1745 map produced during Empress Elizabeth's reign. Our efforts were enhanced by cutting-edge technologies, including the use of drones and the creation of tachymetric terrain plans, - noted Andrey Pavlovich Borodovsky.
Additionally, the NSPU expert contributed to the preparation of illustrations for chapters focusing on various regions of Siberia, highlighting the Kashtak ostrog in the Kemerovo region.
The authors of "Growth Lines" express optimism that their publication will serve as a valuable resource for historians, archaeologists, architects, and heritage conservation specialists. They also aim to engage local historians and a broader audience interested in the history of cultural heritage sites, the military history of Russia, and the narratives of their own regions.
