Scientific Field Seminar “The Lower Volga Region in the Middle Ages” (September 25-27, Astrakhan)

On September 25-27, 2025 the Astrakhan State University named after V.N. Tatischev hosted the Scientific Field Seminar “The Lower Volga Region in the Middle Ages”. The event was organized by the Astrakhan State University named after V.N. Tatischev, the Institute of Archaeology named after A. Kh. Khalikov of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences, the Mari State University, the Belgorod State University and the Astrakhan company Arkheotsentr LLC.

The seminar was attended by 29 researchers from eight Russian cities. The plenary meeting on the first day was opened by representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Astrakhan Oblast, Prorector of Astrakhan State University Ekaterina Pakhomova, President of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences Rifkat Minnikhanov, Director of the Institute of Archaeology named after A. Kh. Khalikov of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences Ayrat Sitdikov and Director of the Astrakhan Museum-Reserve Aleksey Bulychev. After eight reports, the participants visited the Archaeology. Expedition. Museum exhibition at Zeughaus exhibition complex in Astrakhan Kremlin.

On the second day, the participants went on a road trip to archaeological sites of the Migration and Khazar periods. At Kirakle-tobe, Maly Kostyube-1 and Baraniy bugor settlements, tours were guided by Deputy Director of Arkheotsentr LLC Damir Soloviev, Assistant Professor of the Belgorod State University Vladimir Sarapulkin and Senior Research Associate of the Institute of Archaeology named after A. Kh. Khalikov Renat Valiev. Then, featured reports were presented at Semibugry school.

The last day of the seminar was dedicated to the Golden Horde. The participants visited Krasnoyarskoye settlement, a mausoleum complex near Lapas village and Selitrennoye settlement. Daria Belyanina from Arkheotsentr and Sergey Kotenkov from the Caspian Branch of the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences presented a report at Krasnoyarsk Museum. The tour of mausoleums and excavations at Selitrennoye settlement was guided by Director of the Institute of Archaeology named after A. Kh. Khalikov Ayrat Sitdikov and Leading Research Associate of the Institute of Anthropology and Ethnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences Emma Zilivinskaya.

At the seminar, the participants discussed the topical issues related to studies of medieval towns and monuments of the Lower Volga, witnessed the results of most recent field studies and familiarized with the newest discoveries.