Stage practices as a means of self-identification of the Greek ethnic of Azov region

The purpose of the article is to reveal the peculiarities of the revival of ethnic self-identification by the Greeks of the Azov region by means of stage practices. Research methodology. The historical-cultural method was used (to study the historical period of formation and development of the Greek ethnos of the Azov region); theoretical method (to summarize the data of the material analyzed in the article in order to highlight the main trends of stage practices of the Greeks of the Azov region); structural-functional method (for analysis of the structure of ethnocultural self-identification); cultural-semiotic method (for the study of the method of constructing ethnocultural self-identification as a mental structure through symbolic forms), etc. Scientific novelty. The main constants of ethnocultural identity are studied; the possibility of constructing a positive ethnic identity in contemporary performing arts in general and the ethnic group of the Greeks of the Azov region, in particular, is considered; The peculiarities of the revival of ethnic self-identification by the Greeks of the Azov region by means of stage practices were revealed. Conclusions. Manifestation of ethnocultural self-identification of cultural and artistic practices has a complex semantic and expressive structure and manifests itself as a multilevel system. In accordance with the constructivism and cultural-semiotic approach, the stage practices of the Greek ethnos of the Azov region offer a way to construct ethnocultural self-identification as a mental structure through such symbolic forms as a worldview, ethnic worldview, and artistic worldview. They reflect the consciousness of man and society as a whole, as well as what is important for the Greek ethnic group, and have the greatest potential for building a positive image of the ethnic community. Keywords: Greek ethnos, Greeks of the Azov region, stage practices, ethnocultural self-identification.

Issues of the History of the Greek Presence on Ukrainian Territory in Modern National Historiography

The purpose of the study is a historiographical analysis of the works of modern Ukrainian historians on the issues of ethnic history of the Greeks of Ukraine, who belong to its oldest and most stable ethnic communities. In this regard, several tasks are set, one of which is to define main thematic areas of these studies and the degree of their analysis. The methodology is based on the scientific principles of historicism and objectivity. Specific scientific methods of historiographic analysis, synthesis, ideographic and other methods were used. Scientific novelty is determined primarily by the fact that this topic within the outlined chronological boundaries has not become the subject of a separate scientific study so far. Conclusions: Development of issues of ethnic history of the Greeks of Ukraine, which was initiated in the studies of scholars from Western European countries and the Russian Empire at the end of the XVIII – XIX centuries and has evolved significantly thanks to the scientific achievements of Soviet historians, received a new impetus in the early 1990s in the works of Ukrainian historians. The emergence of another wave of scientific interest in this topic is associated with the reset of the national historical science after the proclamation of independence of Ukraine, the imperatives of state ethnopolitics, the demands of the Ukrainian public, etc. These developments are based on a wide range of newly discovered sources and are characterized by modern research approaches, rethinking key issues of the problem, developing new theories (primarily on the ethnogenesis of Urums and Roumeans), etc. It is determined that a significant contribution to the study of the issue was made by the staff of the Institute of History of Ukraine of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, in particular the Cabinet of Ukrainian-Greek Relations (since 2007 – Research Center for Ukrainian-Greek Relations) headed by N.O. Terentyeva. Against the background of a wide variety of issues on the ethnic history of Ukrainian Greeks, which have a fairly high level of development today, primarily in the history of the Greeks of Nizhyn and North Azov region, their national and cultural life in independent Ukraine is the least represented

Ethnocultural basis of the formation process of the Crimean Tatar art culture and decorative and applied art (part one)

Based on the research results of Russian, Soviet and foreign archaeologists, anthropologists, geneticists and art historians, an attempt has been made to trace the process of formation of the artistic culture and decorative and applied art of descendants, who by the 10th –11th centuries took part in shaping of the Crimean mountain people, the Tats of the Crimea, the ancestors of the ethnographic groups of the modern Crimean Tatar people – the southern coastal and mountain Crimean Tatars, as well as of the Greco-Tatars – the Urums of the Azov region. And also to try to characterize the culture and decorative arts of the aboriginal and immigrant ethnic groups of the Crimean peninsula, who later took part in the process of ancient cultural genesis of the population of the mountainous and southern coastal Crimea. It also shows the initial stage of the process of cultural genesis of the steppe and foothill Crimean Tatars, which was going on parallel to the process of cultural genesis and formation of the artistic culture of the Tats of the mountainous and southern coastal Crimean Tatars.

CULTURAL LANDSCAPES OF THE NORTHEASTERN PRIAZOV REGION AND THE DON DELTA IN THE EARLY IRON AGE: PROBLEMS OF STUDY AND PROTECTION

Дельты крупных рек с глубокой древности были зонами интенсивных этнокультурных контактов, в эпоху античности – эпицентрами активных цивилизационных процессов. Ярким примером является территория северо-восточного Приазовья, расположенная на стыке обширных природно-географических зон и крупных историко-географических территорий. Проблемы изучения и сохранения ценного природного и историко-культурного территориального комплекса региона являются актуальными на протяжении многих лет. Настоящее исследование посвящено изучению влияния природных и антропогенных факторов на процесс развития ландшафтов северо-восточного Приазовья в раннем железном веке на основе анализа археологических и литологических материалов прибрежных районов Краснодарского края и Ростовской области. Результаты данных естественнонаучных исследований, проведенных за последние годы, позволяют восстановить процессы трансформации природного облика северо-восточного Приазовья и Нижнего Подонья, начиная с эпохи среднего голоцена, в том числе – представить в общих чертах среду обитания и природный контекст, в котором существовали поселения бронзового – раннего железного века региона. Since ancient times, the deltas of large rivers were zones of intense ethnocultural contacts; in the era of antiquity, they have been the epicenters of active civilizational processes. A striking example is the territory of the northeastern Azov region, located at the junction of vast natural and geographical zones and large historical and geographical territories. The problems of studying and preserving the valuable natural, historical and cultural territorial complex of the region have been relevant for many years. This study is devoted to the study of the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors on the development of landscapes in the northeastern Azov region in the early Iron Age based on the analysis of archaeological and lithological materials of the coastal regions of Krasnodar Territory and Rostov Region. The results of these natural scientific studies carried out in recent years make it possible to restore the processes of transformation of the natural appearance of the northeastern Azov and Lower Don regions, starting from the Middle Holocene, including – to provide an outline of the habitat and the natural context in which the Bronze settlements existed – early Iron Age region.

Management and Prospects for the Development of Cultural Tourism in the Sea of Azov Region

The cultural potential of the Sea of Azov region for the development of cultural tourism is analysed. There are three groups of cultural resources of the region: 1) objects of cultural material heritage and museum resources; 2) objects of intangible cultural heritage; 3) festival and event resources. The institutional capacity and attendance of the museum cluster of the Azov region are illustrated. A SWOT-analysis of the resources for the development of cultural tourism in the Azov region is conducted. The main problems and challenges of development of the tourist sector of the Sea of Azov region are identified: short tourism season; lack of information about the cultural potential of the Azov Sea region; unused cultural and historical resource; focus on budget beach holidays; non-perception by the inhabitants of the Azov region as a cultural center («inferiority complex»); low level of hospitality and service; unformed cultural tourism product; lack of tourist information centers, as well as authentic souvenirs, guides, navigation and pointers to cultural sites; unformed museum network and museum infrastructure; lack of conference seats to meet the needs of the industrial region; lack of quality unique festivals and large-scale interesting events for tourists, etc. The need to use significant cultural resources of the Sea of Azov region to increase the tourism attractiveness of the region is substantiated. Variants of cultural products of the Sea of Azov region are given: 1) event product (festivals; religious holidays and ceremonies, MICE-products); 2) art product (art tours, art vacations, photo tours); 3) film tourism (filming and tours of the filming locations); 4) cultural and cognitive tourism (city tours, industrial tours, sentimental tours, sacred tours). Methodological guidelines for creation and promotion of cultural tourism products in the region, in particular, recommendation of targeting priority of target audiences, conducting a large-scale marketing campaign to promote cultural tourism products for target audiences, organizing information tours for tour operators, bloggers and media, using digital marketing and online platforms are improved.

Species diversity of bats (Chiroptera) in the Ukrainian Azov Region and features of their residence by seasons

The article presents the results of regional surveys of bats in 2010–2020 in places planned for the construction of wind farms. With the use of modern ultrasonic detectors, computer programs and an electronic library of voices, 15 species were found in the Ukrainian Azov Region. Their highest diversity (11–13 species) was revealed in places of intensive migration. First of all, these are the sites Armyansk, Chaplynka, and Askania-Nova, which are located between the Dnieper valley and the Crimean Peninsula. Probably, in this area, bats migrating from the northern and north-eastern regions cross the land and join those moving along the Azov coast. The movement of a significant number of animals is noticeable in the west of the Molochna River. A relatively large variety of bats occurs near the sites Botiyevo, Orlivka, and Primorsk, located directly on the northern shore of the Sea of Azov, along which the migratory movements of bats are particularly strong. During winter, with limited research in this period, 8 species were found, whereas 13 species during spring and autumn migrations and 11 species in summer. The almost complete transformation of the steppe into agrocoenoses bordered by forest belts and irrigation canals undoubtedly affected bats in addition to global warming. In recent years, in all places of the Ukrainian Azov Region, there has been a decline in the number of the common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) and serotine bats (Eptesicus serotinus), and an increase in the abundance of the noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula), Kuhl's pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii), Nathusius' pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii), and parti-coloured bat (Vespertilio murinus). In all seasons, the least common species were the brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii), greater noctule (Nyctalus lasiopterus), lesser noctule (Nyctalus leisleri), Savi's pipistrelle (Hypsugo savii), and western barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus).

On the Origin of the Caspian Culture

Introduction. The territory of Lower Volga occupies a special place in studying the cultural genesis of Eastern Europe. Prominent cultures of the Eneolithic and Early Bronze Age were formed there and played an important role in the formation of the Volga-Ural hearth of cultural genesis. Equally important is the problem of the origin of the Caspian culture, with which researchers associate the beginning of the spread of cattle breeding and the emergence of the first copper products in the Volga steppe. Methods and discussion. The researchers expressed quite similar views on this issue. The process of Caspian culture origin in the Lower Volga region was considered as autochthonous with the participation of northern components. The substrate basis was the Oryol culture, and the superstrate was the societies of the Volga region forest-steppe. The comprehensive analysis of Volga steppe materials allows offering an alternative view of the Caspian culture genesis. The appearance of several features (collar-like thickening, a combed stamp, the technique of increased spin, producing economy, the dominance of quartzite raw materials for the manufacture of tools, the technique of forced squeezing in the receipt of logs, the emergence of producing farming in the form of cattle breeding, etc.) is associated not with the northern foreststeppe and forest-steppe, but with western components. The comparative analysis of radiocarbon dates of the forest-steppe and steppe Volga, Northern Caspian Sea and Don area supports this version. The chronological priority is fixed for materials of the Don area and Azov region. It is in these areas that the leading features characteristic of the Caspian culture appeared earlier. Results. The earlier complexes of the Caspian culture were formed in the Northern Caspian about 5700 BC. Later its penetration into the Lower and forest-steppe Volga Basin was recorded.

Revised chronostratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental record of loess-palaeosol sequences in the Azov Sea region of Russia since the late Pleistocene

<p>Loess-palaeosol sequences are the most intensively studied terrestrial archives used for the reconstruction of late Pleistocene environmental and climatic changes in the Sea of Azov region, southwest Russia. Here we present a revised luminescence-based chronostratigraphy and a multi-proxy record of late Pleistocene environmental dynamics of the most complete and representative loess-palaeosol sequences (Beglitsa and Chumbur-Kosa sections) from the Azov Sea region. We propose a new chronostratigraphy following the Chinese and Danubean loess stratigraphy models that refines the subdivision of the last interglacial palaeosol (S1) in two Azov Sea sites, resolves the uncertainty of the stratigraphic position of the weakly developed paleosol (L1SSm) in Beglitsa section, and allows direct correlation of the Azov Sea sections with those in the Danube Basin and the Chinese Loess Plateau. More importantly, it adds important data to better constrain local and regional chronostratigraphic correlations, and facilitates the interpretation of climatic connections and possible forcing mechanisms responsible for the climatic trend among these regions. In addition, a general succession of environmental dynamics is reconstructed from these two vital sections, which is broadly consistent with other loess records in the Dnieper Lowland and Lower Danube Basin, demonstrating similar climatic trends in these regions at glacial-interglacial time scales. However, differences in details were also identified, especially for palaeosols developed during the last interglacial period, and the cause of these dissimilarities between loess records appears complex.</p><p>Furthermore, our results have important implications for the chronostratigraphic representativeness of Beglitsa as a key loess section and the reconstruction of the temporal and spatial evolution of late Pleistocene palaeoclimate in the Sea of Azov region.</p><p> </p>