Taiozhnye sviatilishcha severnykh mansi: sovremennoe sostoianiie

Abstract

The article discusses the current condition of sacred places and sanctuaries of the Northern Mansi. The author draws attention to the particular type of sanctuaries that is found at the spots of traditional economic activities. He describes five cult objects that have not been previously examined in scholarly literature. Assessing the results of studying a number of sacred places over the last fifteen years, he further analyzes the changes that have occurred and argues that they have to do with the general deterioration of sacred places in the region, as well as with the transformations of sacred structures and characters of guardian spirits.