A revered place in the rural landscape: Whose heritage? On the history of the holy spring in Altai

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Abstract

The article examines the problems of the relationship between rural local communities and local landscape shrines. Drawing on fieldwork data, archival materials, local periodicals, and writings of Siberian Old Believers, I attempt to reconstruct the historical past of the Holy Spring, one of the most revered places in the Altai region, which bears the characteristics of both the cult and memorial place. I inquire into the conditions leading to transformations in the historical memory that is embodied in revered places and expound the methodology for studying such loci as functional zones of cultural landscapes, locations of memory, and objects of cultural heritage. I further specifically address the interesting case of overlapping vernacular practices of venerating holy places and collective memory of local events during the Civil War. Finally, I examine the most significant stages in the history of the revered place, as well as the reasons for its “reinvention” at the present time.

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Galina V. Liubimova

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: terra-gl@mail.ru

к. и. н., старший научный сотрудник

Russian Federation, 17 Acad. Lavrentiev Avenue, Novosibirsk, 630090

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2. Fig. 1. The sacred complex in the village of Sorochy Log, Pervomaisky district of the Altai Territory. Photo by the author, 2017

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3. Fig. 2. The procession in St. John the Baptist monastery. Photo by the author, 2022

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4. Fig. 3. Pilgrims at the holy key. Photo by the author, 2022

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5. Fig. 4. A note left at the wooden crucifix. Photo by the author, 2019

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