Sacralizing Environments: Context and Relevance of Interdisciplinary Approaches (a Case Study of Buryatia and Mongolia’s Sites of Worship)

Abstract

Retrospective studies of the human-society-environment system are increasingly ranked among the interdisciplinary problems of philosophy, ecology, paleography, history, ethnology and other scientific disciplines. Scientists are beginning to understand that the current ecological conditions require increased interest not only towards the environment as such but also towards deep historical research of the relationship between man and nature, require further studies and preservation efforts for natural, historical, and cultural heritage. Goals. The paper analyzes archaeological sites and places of worship for the possibility of correlating their locations with real geoactive zones through the example of the Barguzin Valley, and seeks to identify features of the territory, comparing it to separate Mongolia-based places of worship. Materials and Methods. The work attempts to apply an interdisciplinary approach in characterizing the origin of sites of worship from the standpoint of different disciplines, such as geology, geography, history, archeology, ethnology, and folkloristics. Results. The interdisciplinary approach to the research of places of worship makes it possible to once again highlight challenges faced by scholars engaged therein more broadly, and involve materials that have not been previously examined in this perspective. Nowadays, this constitutes a most urgent problem in contexts of aggravated man-nature relations, violations of harmonious ties, and increased anthropogenic impacts in certain areas for extensive use of natural resources contrary to opinions of the local population.