Cultural and Chronological Aspect of Slavonic Ceramics Utilization in the 13th – 14th Centuries in the Bolgar Region of the Golden Horde (on the basis of Laishevo settlement materials)

The paper considers the materials from Laishevo (Chakma) settlement located in Laishevsky District of the Republic of Tatarstan related to the discoveries of Slavonic ceramics resembling the ceramics of Ancient Rus, but containing an admixture of coarse crushed shell in molding mass. Fragments of this ceramics were concentrated in the eastern part of the settlement, separated from the western part by a deep wide gulley. Numerous buildings of manors destroyed by long-term plowing and reservoir waters, which in accordance with numismatic material existed in the 14th – early 15th centuries, were discovered and studied at the site in the 1990s. The author describes the circumstances of the discovery of Slavonic ceramics, focusing on the complex of findings from the excavations of dwellings and household constructions located at its discovery site. The construction remains contained household items, tools, containers and table ceramic ware, and cast iron pots. The excavated material from this part of the village includes bronze and silver adornments and religious cult items. An analysis of available information demonstrated that Slavonic ceramics has been discovered within the foundation pits dating back to the middle and second half of the 14th century, and less frequently the early 15th century. The most representative complexes featuring Slavonic ceramics have been discovered in foundation pits of the 1350s–1360s erected prior to a plague epidemic. Their inhabitants were Christians, as evidenced by the discovered body crosses.