Daurs in 17th-Century Yakutia Revisited

Abstract

Introduction. The article examines ‘yasak’ books and explores Daurs to have resided in Yakutia in 1634-1678. Goals. The study aims to analyze all available data on Daurs who had inhabited the Aldan River Basin (‘Aldan Daurs’). The objectives to be pursued thereto include as follows: 1) analysis of sources mentioning the 17th-century Aldan Daurs, 2) identification of similarities and differences between the Daur population of Yakutia and kindred ethnic groups. Materials and methods. The study primarily analyzes scientific works on the history of Yakutia, as well as published archival documents of that period ― yasak books, orders, and petitions. The work employs historical research methods, i.e. the historical descriptive (narrative), comparative ones, and that of linguistic analysis. Results. The paper articulates assumptions about origins of individuals mentioned in the yasak book, and provides a detailed linguistic analysis of Daur and other names for the former’s ethnic identification. The article deals with the Daurs of Yakutia only, and does not address the issue of the origin of the Sakha people (Yakuts). The work shows that the available sources are insufficient for accurate ethnic identification of Yakutia’s Daurs. This question requires further comprehensive research.