Time of the hillfort «Toyanov gorodok»: new numismatic finds and radiocarbon data

The article is devoted to the chronology of the Hillfort “Toyanov Gorodok”, since this problem has not yet been considered. “Toyanov Gorodok” was a winter settlement of the Eushtin Knyaz Toyan and was an important political center in the XV-XVII centuries. Due to the diplomacy of Knyaz Toyan, a new Russian city Tomsk was founded in 1604 in front of Toyan's Town, on the right bank of the river Tom. Numismatic finds and radiocarbon dates obtained during the excavations of 2015 and 2018 are published for the first time. The numismatic material of the site is represented by silver coins of Ivan IV the Terrible and Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, as well as an unusual token-imitation of the Nuremberg counting tokens of the end of the XVI-mid XVII century. The research conducted for the first time allow us to obtain data on the stages of functioning of the excavated dwelling and the time of settlement of the cape, on which “Toyanov Gorodok” is located. It is concluded that episodic visits to the cape are recorded in the era of the Early Iron Age, the Early and High Middle Ages. This is evidenced by the presence of several ceramic crowns in the pits and slope of the settlement. However, the formation of a cultural layer and traces of permanent residence for these periods have not been identified. The most numerous finds, as well as a rich cultural layer, coupled with radiocarbon dates indicate the existence of the investigated dwelling on “Toyanov Gorodok” settlement fortification within the middle XV-beginning of the XVIII century, with the redevelopment of the dwelling in the second half of the XVII century, associated with the construction of a new mud-brick kiln in the center of the dwelling. The article criticizes the accepted chronology of the ceramic traditions, associated by many scientists with the culture of Tomsk Tatars. Researchers in the framework most often date similar ceramic complexes of the Tomsk Ob Region and Taiga Chulym River Region back to the XVI-XVII centuries, while the lower boundary within the XVI century, according to the authors, is determined intuitively only, as there is no specific evidence and proof for the appearance of this ceramics in the XVI century. Excavations on the Hillfort “Toyanov Gorodok” allow us to expand the time frame for the existence of this ceramic tradition in the Lower Tom River Region within the middle XV-early XVIII century. Numismatic material and items of Russian imports (bronze rings and a cannonball) reflect close cultural contacts of the Tatar and Russian people, which is confirmed by historical documents about the military service of the Tatars and the receipt of monetary salaries. At the same time, the absence of Russian ceramics at Toyanov town suggests that the local ceramic traditions were still strong, and their disappearance occurred in the subsequent 18th century era.

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