Methodological Aspects of the Study of Archaeological Sites Complexes around Major Golden Horde Cities in the Lower Volga River Region

Certain methodological aspects related to the analysis of territorial distribution and periodization of the archaeological sites located around major settlements of the Lower Volga river region referring to the Golden Horde epoch are characterized in the article. These are the Uvek, Tsarev, Selitrennoye and Shareny Bugor settlements. The district territory around each of these settlements was determined by a distance not exceeding 60 km from the archaeological sites. Within the neighborhood, all categories of archeological sites were examined: settlements, cemeteries, hoards. Settlement classification was based on the area as a population number index. The author has identified potential economic zones of the settlements. According to numismatic data, from 1266 to 1459, 6 major chronological stages have been singled out in the history of the districts, reflecting the patterns of monetary circulation in the Jochid state.