News

Archaeological studies on the Bilyar settlement in 2022

The Institute of Archaeology named after A.H. Khalikov of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences together with the Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnology named after B. Jamgerchinov of the National Academy of Sciences of Kyrgyz Republic continued archaeological works within the framework of the joint project “Medieval cities on transcontinental trade routes of Eurasia: urban centers of the Chuy Valley and the Middle Volga regions”.

In July 2022 the Bilyar settlement located on the territory of the Bilyar State Historical, Archaeological and Natural Museum-Reserve was studied. Excavation XLVII with an area of 144 m2 was made in the central part of the settlement. Traces of industrial activity were supposed to be found here. In the course of the work cultural layers with a thickness of up to 1.5 m were excavated. 17 structures were found and studied. The filling of the structures and the nature of the findings point out that there was uncovered part of the industrial complex specializing in the production of glass wares.

The first-year students of the Naberezhnyye Chelny State Pedagogical Institute, the Yelabuga Institute of the KFU and the Institute of International Relations of the KFU, underwent educational archaeological practiсal training, took part in the expedition.

On July 28 in the framework of his visit to Bilyarsk Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, accompanied by the head of the Alekseevskoye district Sergey Demidov, visited the archaeological excavations of Ancient Bilyar, the capital of the Volga Bulgaria. “This is a truly unique place. A lot of work is carried out by teams of archaeologists. Everyone should know about the rich culture of Bilyar”, President said.