XII Bolgar International Archaeological School has opened in Bolgar

On August 13, 2025, the opening ceremony of the XII Bolgar International Archaeological School took place at the Memorial Sign of the Bolgar State Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve.

During the plenary session, welcoming addresses were delivered by Irada Khafizyanovna Ayupova, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan; Rifkat Nurgaliyevich Minnikhanov, President of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences; Roman Leonidovich Islamov, Representative of the administration of the Spassky district; Ayrat Gabitovich Sitdikov, Director of the Institute of Archaeology named after A.Kh. Khalikov of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences; Ramil Rustemovich Ziganshin, Director of the Bolgar Museum-Reserve; Radik Rimovich Salikhov, Director of the Institute of History named after Sh.Marjani of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences; Denis Valeryevich Pyezhemsky, Senior Research Fellow at the Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Moscow State University mamed after M.V. Lomonosov (representing the teaching staff); Natalia Nikolaevna Skakun, Head of the experimental traceological expedition also taking place in Bolgar at this time, and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.The speakers highlighted the important role of the Bolgar International Archaeological School in strengthening scientific personnel potential and emphasized the significance of this year’s chosen scientific focus – the restoration of archaeological artifacts made from various materials – for the preservation of historical and cultural heritage.

The organizers of this scientific and educational project are: the Institute of Archaeology named after A.Kh. Khalikov TAS, the Bolgar State Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve, and the International Institute for Central Asian Studies (Samarkand, Republic of Uzbekistan) with support from the “History of the Fatherland” Foundation.

The School program includes not only scientific and practical work within thematic sections but also a general course of lectures delivered by leading specialists. As per tradition, the School will conclude with the Final International youth scientific and practical conference “Interdisciplinary research in archaeology: achievements and challenges” (August 24, 2025), where participants will have the opportunity to present the results of their own research.

Approximately 80 participants are taking part in the School: undergraduate and graduate students, postgraduate students, young scientists, and specialists from 24 regions of Russia and 5 foreign countries: Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

The teaching faculty consists of leading specialists from the State Hermitage Museum, the State Research Institute for Restoration, the Kunstkamera (Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography), the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the Museum and Research Institute of Anthropology MSU, the N.N. Miklukho-Maklai Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology RAS, and the Institute of Archaeology named afterA.Kh. Khalikov of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences.