N.F. Kalinin: Studying And Preserving The Historical And Archaeological Heritage Of Bolgar Fortified Settlement

Abstract

The paper addresses the archaeological studies by Nikolai Filippovich Kalinin at Bolgar fortified settlement in 1932-1946. New archival materials from the researcher's personal fund were processed and introduced into scientific discourse. One of the main directions in the scientific activity of the scientist was Bolgar fortified settlement. As the only local archaeologist, N.F. Kalinin developed a detailed project for the study of Bolgar fortified settlement in the 1930s. This project was approved by the State Academy for the History of Material Culture and passed an ideological test in the central organizations of Tatarstan, but the excavation had not started until 1938. The main reason for this was the lack of funds and specialists in the Republic. Nikolai Filippovich took part in the five seasons of the Bolgar archaeological expedition under the supervision of A.P. Smirnov (in 1938–1940, 1945–1946). As evidenced by an analysis of these activities, the first years of archaeological studies of the fortified settlement were mainly carried out according to the plan developed by N.F. Kalinin in 1932–1934. Largely owing to the scientist's selfless work, the Bolgar fortified settlement was included in the list of reserves of republican significance in 1934.

Keywords

• archaeology
• bolgar fortified settlement
• protection of cultural heritage
• n.f. kalinin
• the republic of tatarstan