Lytkin K.A. The Natural Habitat for Yakut Paternal Family in the late 19th – early 20th century

Abstract: This article discusses the historical and architectural reconstruction of Yakut settlements, differentiated depending on the seasoning of their economical activity. The article is written in relation to the case study of life and household activities of one paternal family, who lived on the plainlands in central Yakutia. The academic interest in this topic is sparkled by the fundamental and organic interconnectedness of paternal family’s natural habitat and the surrounding habitat that is characterized by the preservation of existing ecosystems. The author has researched extensively on preexisting organic basics of formation of traditional Yakut housing in the late historical period, as well as necessary maintenance buildings for successful northern cattle breeding. The characteristics of historical and architectural formation of settlements, emerging as a result of seasonal economic activity and communication with the surrounding organic habitat, were re-created. Research material had been collected during multiple field trips, measuring works and interviews with the witnesses. The main conclusion and the dominating result of the research is the historical and architectural reconstruction of Yakut settlements that appeared during the expansion of natural-resources lands. The settlements slowly lost their social and functional meaning due to the emergence of centralized structures of resettlement in Central Yakutia in the Postwar years.

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