Round table “Current issues of the archaeology of the Volga-Urals: from the Paleolithic to the Late Middle Ages”

On November 11, 2024, the Institute of Archaeology named after A.Kh. Khalikov of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences held a round table “Current issues of archaeology of the Volga-Urals: from the Paleolithic to the Late Middle Ages” in the Institute of History named after Sh. Marjani of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences. This event was dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the outstanding archaeologist, Doctor of History Evgeny Petrovich Kazakov – one of the leading archaeologists, a prominent specialist in the field of ancient and medieval archaeology of the Volga-Urals, a talented organizer of science and education.

The monograph “Volga-Kama region in the era of the Turkic Khaganates. Book two. The burial ground of the Imenkov culture in the Devichy Gorodok tract (Izmeri IX burial ground)” by E.P. Kazakov was presented at the round table. The monograph is a continuation of his work on the publication of materials from the sites of the Volga-Kama region of the era of the Turkic Kaganates. The first book is devoted to the studies of the Komintern II burial ground. The second one describes the Izmeri IX burial ground, one of the largest studied burial grounds of the Imenkovo archaeological culture in Tatarstan. Based on the analysis of burial assemblages with cremations and burial equipment, ethnic and cultural relations, everyday life and economy, indigenous and newly come populations of the second half of the VI–VII centuries AD are highlighted. In continuation, it is planned to publish materials from burial deposits of the Imenkovo culture of the Middle Volga region, which were the result of previous (second half of the XX century) and the latest archaeological research.

Congratulatory speeches to E.P. Kazakov were delivered by the President of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences R.N. Minnikhanov, Vice-President of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences A.A.Timerkhanov, Director of the Institute of History named after Sh.Marjani R.R. Salikhov, Director of the Institute of Archaeology named after A.Kh.Khalikov of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences A.G. Sitdikov, Director of the Institute of Tatar Encyclopedia and Regional Studies E.M. Galimova, Director of the Mari Research Institute of Language, Literature and History named after V.M. Vasilyev L.Ya. Grigorieva, Rector of the Mari State University M.N. Shvetsov, Director of the Chuvash State Institute for the Humanities Yu.N. Isaev, representatives of the Samara Archaeological Society. Employees of the Kazan, Bilyar and Yelabuga Museum reserves, the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan, teachers and students of the Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University and the Kazan State Institute of Culture came to emphasize the scientist’s contribution to the preservation of historical and cultural heritage.

Evgeny Petrovich’s colleagues, friends and students of from Kazan, Izhevsk, Yoshkar-Ola, Samara, Penza, Ufa, Ulyanovsk and Bolgar made presentations at the round table. In total, more than 90 participants. They discussed the scientific legacy of E.P. Kazakov, and also presented the current results of archaeological expeditions in 2024, including excavations at the Novoslavka II burial ground in Spassk and Novoye Biksenteevo burial ground in Menzelinsk districts of Tatarstan, the Yurmansky archaeological complex in the Ulyanovsk region, the complex of mausoleums nearby the village of Lapas in the Astrakhan region, Bagaevka ancient settlement in the Saratov region. Participants of the round table shared their memories of archaeological expeditions. Evgeny Petrovich told about his work with V.F. Gening, A.Kh. Khalikov, N.F. Kalinin, P.N. Starostin, R.S. Gabyashev.