Basic Trends in Soviet Archaeology

.i (" Sarcophagus from the fourth or fifth century B.c.; excavated by S. I. Rudenko in 1950 at Bash Adar, Altai BASIC TRENDS IN SOVIET ARCHAEOLOGY IB. A. Rybakov F. I. Krupnov One of the essential features of modem history is its ability to disclose the complex and varied process underlying the historical development of specific countries and peoples, not only since the appearance of written sources, but from the most ancient times, traced with the aid of excavated monuments of material culture. The purpose, the main substance, of archaeology is the study of the most ancient stages in the development of human society and its culture up to the period when material relics lose their dominating importance (that is, until the later Middle Ages). In recent decades archaeology has played an increasingly important role in the study of the early periods in any country. As a science, it long ago advanced in the U.S.S.R. beyond the preparatory stage of the .primary accumulation of facts and entered its creative and constructive stage. Soviet archaeology is an independent division of history with clearly defined tasks and specific methods of scientific investigation. The general achievements of Soviet archaeology in the study of the most ancient history of the U.S.S.R., and in the treatment of important historical and cultural problems, are highly appreciated by the Soviet public: twelve archaeologists have been honoured with Stalin Prizes, one of them receiving two awards of this Prize. These achievements are expressed not only in the remarkable archaeological finds which have broadened our knowledge of the country's rich history, but also in the light shed upon the ancient and mediaeval history of all the peoples of the Soviet Union. Although there are many archaeologists in the U.S.S.R., the demand for these specialists in so vast a country cannot be completely met at present. In pre-revolutionary Russia (before 1917) archaeologists (with very vague qualifications) were educated at two Archaeological Institutes (in St. Petersburg and Moscow), whereas today they are educated at all the leading state universities, the Universities of Moscow and 30 B. A. RYBAKOV & F. I. KRUPNOV Leningrad included. In addition, courses in archaeology are included in the programmes of all the numerous state pedagogical institutes of the U.S.S.R. Only the universities with a five-year course give a special archaeological education. First- and second-year students receive a general course of lectures on archaeology, and in the third year, they begin to major in specific branches of general archaeology and in the archaeology of the U.S.S.R. Lectures on methods of archaeological investigations in the field are read to senior students. Students specializing in the archaeology of the Ancient East, or in ancient archaeology, are required to take in addition to one Western European language, some of the ancient or classical languages (Greek or Latin). Students are given the opportunity of taking part every year in archaeological expeditions arranged by the university, or by various scientific institutes and museums. The diploma of a university-trained archaeologist qualifies him for teaching in a secondary school, for work in museums and research institutes as a senior laboratory worker, or even as a junior scientific worker. There are postgraduate courses at the universities for training archaeologists with a richer educational background. Opportunities for postgraduate work are offered by all the scientific institutes which do research in ancient history and archaeology, and by some of the largest muse}lms, such as the State Hermitage of Leningrad, State Historical Museum of Moscow, and the State Museum of Georgia. The length of the postgraduate course is three years. Applicants must possess a college (i.e. institute) or university education in history, and are admitted on the basis of competitive examinations in archaeology, philosophy, and a Western European language. Those who desire to specialize in the archaeology of the Ancient East, antiquity, or a foreigu country must take in addition to the subjects obligatory to all postgraduate students the necessary language. Applicants are also required to submit a thesis on a subject allied to the chosen field. Eminent scholars, authorities in various fields of archaeology, are appointed to direct...