HONEY HUNTING OF THE SEVRIUKS

Sources of studying the honey hunting of the Sevriuks in the XIVth to XVIIth centuries are various kinds of documents, published honey harvesting «marks» (signs of ownership of the honey hunting holdings) with the accompanying inscriptions, archaeological search results, as well as linguistic and some other materials. The conception of the adaptive role of human culture is a methodological basis. In the economic structure of the Sevriuks, honey harvesting played a very significant role; they even paid a special «honey tax». There is an assumption that honey hunting in general was the main branch of their economy. And it is the Sevriuks who were known in the surrounding countries as «wild-honey farmers». Hence, in the Siverian lands, holdings favourable for breeding bees were valued in the first place. The apiaries, far from premises, were served by flying visits. Pines, lindens, somewhat less – oaks and other varieties that secured warmth, dryness, air filtration and durability were considered to be the best species of tree for producing wild bees’ nest and beehives. For hollowing out wild bees’ nests in trees, as well as beehives-logs, special curved gauges, called «koleyka» and «kopylets» were applied. For honey extraction, there were used a special tackle woven from straps or bast («lezyvo»), a ladder of wild-honey farmers made out of a small tree trunk with knags (called «ostrova»), as well as a hook-shaped crook.