Olenyekskoye wintering place as a historical site of eastern Siberia

Settlement of Ust-Olenyek is one of the most interesting historical sites in the North East Siberia. It is associated with the names of famous polar explorers: S. Dezhnev, I. Rebrov, A. Buza. The remains of the buildings of the settlement have survived to the present day. In 1999 and 2001. There was expedition of the club "Adventure", which was engaged in excavation graves of Basil and Tatiana Pronchishchev, members of the Bering's expedition of1736. At 1.5 km from the place of burial Pronchishchev the remains of wooden houses, were part of the Olenyek winter quarters were found. This settlement played an important role in development of the western part of Eastern Siberian Arctic coast. Cabin was built in 1633 by Ivan Rebrov, team leader of one of the polar expeditions. In 1667-1670 famous polar explorer Semyon Dezhnev served there, who discovered of the strait in the Pacific Ocean. In Olenyek with him his wife Kantemina was there. Life with Cossacks on Olenka was difficult because of food shortages and constant ordering of affairs with the local indigenous population. Olenyek cabin is located on the right bank of the river Olenyek 10 km from its outlet to the Laptev Sea. On the surface of the terrace, where the dwellings were located settlements are clearly visible to a relatively well-preserved remains. Relatively safe is the building number 2, located in the middle part of the settlement. Its length is 7.6 m, width of 5.1 m. On the soil surface the remains of the walls construction are quite well seen. Two walls of the entrance hall are flooded by water currents and shifted to the slope of the terrace. Inside are the remains of the dwelling furnace. Despite the erosion, the cultural layer is relatively well preserved. There are about a hundred finds. They include household objects (bark utensils, pieces of fabric, buttons, metal needles, fragments of dishes, fishing gear). Items served as elements ornaments are quite numerous and represent diverse range of articles, such as parts belt sets, male and female rings and pendants. Four items of one type from belt sets are made of silver. They consist of a flat disk-shaped base, outer mushroom-shaped head and a connecting rod. Head ornaments complex filigree ornament. Two of them are gilding, and the rest are with remaining of red enamel. The collection has two men's rings, one of which is preserved in full. Another two-ring seals functioned as office supplies, as the seals. Special and important category of finds is female jewelry, such as rings and a pendant. Also fragments of two bronze body crosses in the excavation were found.

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