Ust’-Polui Birds and Indigenous People of Northwestern Siberia

The region of Northwestern Siberia has a long-term and very unique archaeological record of the relationships between Indigenous people and birds. The most important collection in regard to these relationships is from Ust’-Polui, a sacrifice center located in the city Salekhard of the Iamal-Nenets Autonomous district. Decades of archaeological excavations at this site, which was used approximately 2000 years ago, have produced multiple images of birds and bird-like beings made from wood, antler and metal, as well as a large bird bone assemblage, including some bird burials. This article explores the ways in which the bird imagery, bird bodies and their parts can provide new insights into how people perceived, identified, and related to birds in this region of Siberia. This is accomplished first by incorporating Nenets, Khanty, and Mansi knowledge about birds to demonstrate how their lives are entangled with those of birds through worldviews, identities, and spiritual well-being. We overview these peoples’ relationships with birds as relatives, gods and ancestors, and spirits and messengers. Second, we provide a description of over 70 avian images that were found at Ust’-Polui which are mainly structured around three groups, including waterfowl, diurnal raptors, and owls. We also integrate results of previously conducted taxonomic identifications of over 12,000 avian remains from the site that provide a compelling context that allows us to link the past and present human-avian relationships in this region.

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