On 23 August 2021, a research associate of Bolgar Museum-Reserve Muhametshin I. D. held a lecture on “The Imenkovskaya culture” for the participants of International archaeological school. The audience became acquainted with the life of tribes living in the Middle Volga region before Bolgar tribes came there. The visitors saw a broad impact of these people on everyday life of Bulgars.
The tribes of the Imenkovskaya culture on the Middle Volga and on the Lower Kama appeared in III-IV centuries AD and existed there before Bulgars came to the Kama region in VII century. This new population brought with itself more developed agriculture and crafts, original spiritual culture and the rite of cremation.
In recent years, there is a point of view in historical-archaeological science about Slavic roots of the population of the Imenkovskaya culture. For the first time this opinion was expressed by A. P. Smirnov and then supported by new materials of G. I. Matveyeva.
Settlements of the Imenkovskaya culture have several similarities with Slavic settlements, in particular, of the Prague-Korchak culture. They built small semi-dugouts and lived in unfortified villages along the riverbanks. The settlements were located compactly (consisted of five-six) forming nests, which probably were consistent with the same family. Hillforts of the Imenkovskaya culture have small cultural layers that is why maybe they were used as shelters. Also, there are some similarities in ceramic material.
Imenkovites left a significant mark in the history of the Middle Volga region. In the territory of Bolgar, there are several Imenkovsky settlements. This page of history is not fully revealed, and it waits for new research.

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