The article considers the activities of the Society for Archeology, History and Ethnography at the Kazan Imperial University for the preservation and exploration of ancient monuments in the Kazan Governorate in the second half of the 19th century. It is noteworthy that the first attempts to preserve the historical and monuments were made in the first quarter of the 18th century by Peter I, who in 1722 visited the Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex. Later, at the direction of Empress Catherine II, objects of the Bulgarian antiquity were explored by famous historians of the second half of the 18th century Pallas and Lepekhin during the ethnographic expedition of the Academy of Sciences. In the 19th century, questions about the preservation of historical monuments began to be transferred to the scientific societies at universities. These societies brought together scholars and lovers of local history, seeking to explore and preserve the "ancient monuments" and the riches of traditional folk culture. At the Kazan Imperial University, the Society for Archeology, History and Ethnography was created in 1878. In its active work, it successfully implemented many tasks of exploring and preserving objects of historical-cultural heritage. Moreover, the Society’s experience is extremely valuable and important for the development of historical knowledge about the history and culture of Kazan as a unique example of the work of the community of history lovers of the native land, as well as the attention of professional scientists to the problems of the city. The works of the Society for Archeology, History and Ethnography are important for modern researchers to further explore and preserve the historical-cultural heritage of not only Kazan, but also of the localities that played a significant role in the history of the formation of Tatar statehood and culture.
Volume 12 | Issue 6
Pages: 2471-2475
DOI: 10.5373/JARDCS/V12I6/S20201206