The Traditional Dwelling of the Mordvins: On the History of Classification and Transformations

10.33876/2311-0546/2024-4/269-270

Abstract

Ethno-cultural tradition has historically determined the type of dwelling to be constructed for a relatively long period of time. However, in response to changing circumstances, the type of residential building can also change significantly. The lack of a comprehensive analysis of the history of classification and transformation of the Mordovian dwellings in the indigenous territory of residence and in other regions of Russia represents a significant obstacle to scientific research in this field. In the context of the current surge in interest in ethnotourism and the preservation of cultural heritage, this scientific research is particularly relevant for younger generations. Information on the history of formation and classification (by the way of its vertical development, by horizontal layout and by the method of construction) of the traditional Mordovian dwelling in the Mordovian Territory / Republic of Mordovia, Volga region, Siberia was collected by the author both in the Republic of Mordovia and in ethnographic expeditions in Tyumen, Kemerovo, Chelyabinsk, Sverdlovsk, Kurgan region, Altai, Krasnoyarsk Territory and other regions of Russia (1991–2018). By vertical development dwellings of the distant past can be classified as following forms: a hut; a dugout and a semi-dugout; a bathhouse; an izba; wooden and adobe houses. According to the horizontal layout the dwellings can be classified as single-chamber, two-chamber, three-chamber dwellings, etc. According to the material and method of construction they are either made of log (mainly), clay, adobe or bricks, due to natural, economic and other factors. Outside Mordovia, Mordovian dwellings differ by material: wood, clay, stone, adobe houses; and by structure: log cabins and crosses (the latter is most common in the villages of Kalinovka, Pokrovka of the Sorokinsky district of the Tyumen region). Dwelling complexes near Mordovia in settlements in the Mordovian region were constantly changing. This was facilitated by the rise in the material well-being of rural residents. The share of two- and three-chamber housing increased with time. The process was faster in towns, more prosperous settlements, settlements located near highways, railways, industrial centers, while in the villages where the population came into contact with urban culture less often, this transition was slower. It would be inaccurate to speak of original and special Mordovian dwellings these days. The Mordvins have been living in next to the Russians for many centuries, their types of economy and building traditions are very similar. The housing of the Mordovian settlers are now largely indistinguishable from those of the surrounding population. The characteristics identified are more indicative of regional than ethnic differences.