Военное дело чукчей (середина XVII—начало XX в.)

In course of permanent wars in the 18^th century social structure of Chukchi society began to change. Chiefdom structure, which started to turn out, did not get any subsequent development because of cessation of large military activity in the end of the century. Due to permanent external menace of war Chukchi might insensibly form tribal alliance and there were already some territorial unions, headed by toions, but because of the war absence they did not unite into tribes. As far as plundering raids to the neighbouring nomad Koryaks continued, an economic inequalities among Chukchi developed and caused appearance of rich nomads who possessed vast reindeer herds. On the other hand that fact entailed search of new pastures and scattering of the Chukchi population. In the same time an excess of reindeers allowed to trade with the neighbours but not necessarily to loot them.

Training. Chukchi as well as other «primitive» societies esteem cult of force. The strongest one was most respected. Small boy was trained to endure starvation, have less sleep and to develop his muscular system. Boy starting from the age of 5―6 years was forced to train: to get up early, to run in snow-shoes weighted with stones and sometime with spear. Then becoming youth to run alongside the prancing reindeer team and to jumping. Besides this nomads were taught to throw a lasso, and the Maritime Chukchi trained to sling stones. Among military training were a spear fencing, archery and wearing armour. As far as training of children was carried out personally each boy become superior warrior-individual, as a group warriors were fighting less successfully as they were not trained in that tactics. In compliance with the individual characteristics and training warriors were able have specialization in a battle. Wrestlers were fighting enemy hand-to-hand, runners were pursuing recessives.

Armament. Chukchi were using two types of armour: hide laminar armour and lamellar made of ivory, bone, and baleen and afterwards produces from iron. Hide and iron armours defended warrior from head to his knees or to midst of shin. Ivory or bone lamellar armours were either breast-plate or cuirass, protecting warrior's body, sometimes in combination with wings. Hunters on large sea animals invented body armour made of walrus' tusks, i. e. by the Eskimos or their ancestors. It represented a lamellar cuirass with one wing or sometimes with two. On the Bering Strait islands Eskimos had behind their body armour stand-up collar, which was not used on Alaska, it was introduced by Asiatic neighbours. Producing technologies of the body armour from ivory, bone or horn was used in production of the iron lamellar armour. This conclusion also could be made from the same fastener system of the armour plates by use similar perforations. Design of the iron body armour was obviously identical to the laminar one made of hide. Metal body armour was widely used in the second half of the 17^th—18^th century when Russians invade into the region and exert influence on population introduced iron. Laminar armour made of hide, protecting body to the midst of knees and having the two wings was typical for Asiatic Eskimos. This armour gave an opportunity to shoot both in left or right stance, as it was required. Above all the armour was intended for missile weapons and as a protection from arrows but not meant for the hand-to-hand fight. Together with the armour one could have couple of laminar shin guards. As wings protected back of the head and face when they were lifted up, helmet was not necessary. Common type of helmet was lamellar helmet convergent to the top. As a helmet liner was used topless cup. An arm-guard was used along with full body armour to provide maximum protection to unprotected hands. A shield was not in use.

Main Chukchi weapon was a spear, while the Eskimos had instead bow and arrows. No doubt that Chukchi also used bow and arrows though they were not so skilled in shooting. Therefore, while distant fight was preferable to Eskimos, Chukchi preferred close combat where they may show their skills in spear fencing. Quite long, about 60 cm, knives were used as subsidiary thrust weapon. Sling was a weapon of settled seaside inhabitants. It was hunting weapon; at the time of battle it was used as protection during the defence of fortification, rarely as than as offensive weapon (every so often replaced by bow). Only in the second part of the 19^th century firearms spread among the Chukchi.

Clothes and tattoo. Chukchi had not clear distinction between everyday and military clothing. In the fight Chukchi, independently of season, get dressed in light summer clothes composed of fur shirt and pants. Usually Chukchi had not used headgear, however as a military cap sometimes mentioned wolfish scalp with stand-up ears.