South Russian traces in the origins of the tillage in the Perm Region (archaeological evidence)

The paper deals with some issues of the origins of the tillage in the Perm Region at the turn of the 12^th century. During that time, a new type of implement got widespread. They were ards fitted with broad-bladed iron shares. The finds of the shares were analyzed and compared with the analogous ones from the territory of Kievan Rus’. The analysis showed that the South Russian articles found in the Upper Kama region appeared together with Bulgarian articles and sometimes with the ard shares. South Russian things of 10–11 centuries were also found on the territory of Volga Bulgaria. Being a large mediaeval state, Volga Bulgaria both had a strong influence on the Finno-Ugric population of the Kama region and had dealings with Kievan Rus’ (northern and southern parts) using the Volga trade route. Therefore, the origins of the tillage and the appearance of the broad-bladed iron shares in the Perm Region may be connected with the spreading of the South Russian agricultural traditions through the agency and under the influence of Volga Bulgaria.