Scientific seminar “Volga region in the Middle Ages” (to the 125th anniversary of A.P. Smirnov)

On February 16, 2023, the first meeting of the scientific seminar “The Volga region in the Middle Ages” dedicated to the 125th anniversary of Aleksey Smirnov was held at the Institute of Archaeology RAS (Moscow). The seminar was organized by the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences  and the Institute of Archaeology named after A.Kh. Khalikov of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences.

More than 20 scientists from the Volga region took part in the work of the seminar in online and offline formats. During the seminar the following articles were presented:

Badeyev Denis (Institute of Archaeology RAS). The social topography of Bolgar in the works of A.P. Smirnov and according to the results of new research;

Valiyev Renat, Stepanov Rodion, Sayfutdinova Guzel (Institute of Archaeology TAS). Urban planning interpretation of archaeological sites of the Bolgar settlement periphery;

Rudenko Konstantin (Kazan State Institute of Culture). A.P. Smirnov and Kazan archaeology (according to the materials of ego-documents);

Valiulina Svetlana (Kazan Federal University). “Problem of capitals” of the Volga Bolgaria in the light of new archaeological studies;

Bugarchev Aleksey  (Institute of Archaeology TAS) Juchid coins from the Bolgar settlement based on the results of works in 1970 (from the funds of the State Historical Museum);

Emma Zilivinskaya (Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology RAS). Interior elements of the Golden Horde residential buildings.

In the presented articles topical problems of archaeology of the Volga region, A.P. Smirnov’s  role in the development of the archaeology of the region, the formation of concepts of historical cognition were discussed. His activity was noted not only as the founder and head of archaeological expeditions for study Volga region cities, but also as an organizer, thanks to whom a team of like-minded persons was created and successfully dealt with the problems of Volga basin archaeology.

The second meeting will be held on May 28-30, 2022 in Bolgar on the basis of the A.Kh. Khalikov Institute of Archaeology of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences.