2025. no 2. Viktoriya Islyamova

The mountain guardians of the herds:
everyday life of the Crimean Tatar shepherds
of Chatyr-Dag in the 19th – early 20th centuries (1)

Viktoriya Islyamova
Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University

Abstract. The various features of life and everyday life of the Crimean Tatar shepherds thanks to the notes and memoirs of travellers, local historians and eyewitnesses, who visited Chatyr-Dag in the 19th – early 20th centuries, were identified and comprehensively investigated in the article. The Chatyr-Dag’s role as the important centre of shepherds culture in the Crimea was considered. Based on written sources of personal origin, the main pedestrian routes of ascent to the plateau of the above-mentioned mountain range (from Alushta and Simferopol) and the conditions of seasonal stay of shepherds on pastures, associated with the terrain and natural and climatic features (unpredictable weather conditions associated with sudden changes in air temperature, gusts of wind, precipitation (rain, snow), as well as with a food base for herds (presence of grass cover) and water sources, suitable caves for shelter (Emine-Khosar-Koba, Suuk-Koba, Binbash-Koba etc.)) were clarified and characterized. The important role of domestic animals accompanying the herd (guard herding and management dogs and goats) was determined. The specialization, professional responsibilities and working conditions of shepherds as well as the form of payment for work and the specifics of interaction, controversial issues that were resolved at general meetings of shepherds from different groups (atamans, shepherds, shepherds’ assistants) were researched.

Keywords: Crimean Tatars, Chatyr-Dag, shepherds, sheep, shepherd dogs

For citation: Islyamova V.A. The mountain guardians of the herds: everyday life of the Crimean Tatar shepherds of Chatyr-Dag in the 19th – early 20th centuries (1). Krymskoe istoricheskoe obozrenie=Crimean Historical Review. 2025, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 128–162. DOI: 10.22378/kio.2025.2.128-162 (In Russian)

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About the author: Viktoriya A. Islyamova – Cand. Sci. (History), Senior Lecturer at the Department of History, Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University (8, Uchebnyy lane, Simferopol 295015, Russian Federation); ORCID: 0000-0002-5371-8863; ResearcherID: HDM-1812-2022; victorianage89@gmail.com