Economy and Settlement System among the Aghin Buryats in the First Quarter of the 20th Century

Purpose . The purpose of the study is to clarify the dynamics of the development of the settlement system of the Buryats of the Lower Onon region and the impact of their economic activities on it during the first quarter of the 20 th century. Results . The first part of the study is devoted to the general characteristics of the economy of the Aghin Buryats in the first quarter of the 20th century. It has been established that the economy of the majority of these Buryats remained pastoral (they conducted semi-nomadic and semi-settled cattle breeding). At the beginning of the 20th century, their economy was in crisis, caused by a shortage of natural pastures and limited artificial mowing. One of the consequences of this was the growth of seasonal migrations outside the ethnic territory, including to Mongolia. The second part of the study shows the dynamics of the Aghin Buryat settlement system. It is highlighted that in the first quarter of the 20 th century, the Buryat settlement system in the Lower Onon region expanded. It is shown that the location of stationary settlements near these Buryats was linked to the local hydrographic network. It was determined that they retained the riverine, mountain-valley and lakeside forms of settlement. It was found out that until the 1920s, the majority of the Aghin Buryats continued to adhere to the khoton and ulus-khoton systems. It was found that the settlement network, reflecting the pastoral nature of the economy, mainly consisted of small-scale winter villages. Conclusion . The study shows that in the first quarter of the 20th century under the influence of the processes taking place in the economy of the Aghin Buryats their settlement system changed.