An exhibition of artifacts unearthed by the N.A. Mazhitov Bashkir Archaeological Expedition is now open at the "Tura-khan" Visitor Center of the Eurasian Museum of Nomadic Civilizations. The exhibition is dedicated to the settlement of Podymalovo-1 and showcases a portion of the collection, featuring items made of iron, non-ferrous metals, bone, and ceramics.
Podymalovo-1 is a medieval archaeological site in Bashkortostan, dating back to the 14th century. It was discovered in 2010 by archaeologist Gennady Nikolaevich Garustovich. The first research on the site began in 2016, with the initial excavations taking place in 2017.
Judging by the findings, the inhabitants of the settlement were a migrant population. They were actively engaged in crafts, including metalworking (producing weapons and tools), bone carving (making inlays and gaming bones), and jewelry making (ornaments, rings, earrings). This is evidenced by the numerous artifacts on display: fragments of chainmail, arrowheads, knives, scissors, and locks.
A distinctive feature of Podymalovo-1 is the abundance of Kashin pottery – brightly glazed tableware, fragments of which have been found in large quantities. These items indicate intensive trade relations with cities in the Volga region (such as Bulgar) and Central Asia. Furthermore, the presence of ceramics from the Chiyalik archaeological culture points to close contacts between the migrant inhabitants and the local population.
The main exhibits of the exhibition include fragments of glazed Kashin pottery, jewelry (beads, rings, earrings), coins, arrowheads, chainmail fragments, and gaming bones (knucklebones). Among the rare finds are a conical spindle whorl with a cross-shaped ornament, bone inlays, saddle trim, millstones, a chisel, a fragment of a cast-iron cauldron, a claw chisel, and a mace weight. These artifacts illustrate the daily life, crafts, and intercultural interactions of the settlement's inhabitants with the local population.