Scientific departments and laboratories of IHMC RAS

1. Slavonic-finnish archaeology dept. (>>>...)

Major research areas:

• Slavonic culture and colonization in northern regions of East Europe
• Slavonic-finnish and slavonic-scandinavian contacts and interactions of peoples and cultures in North-West Russia and Baltic Sea region
• History and development of old russian towns, craft, trade, transport, housing
• Finno-Ugrian tribes, their role and consequence in history and culture of Old Russia;
  5. Architecture and church archaeology
• The Department holds high archaeological investigations at North-West and North of Russia. It includes 21 research fellows

2. Central Asia and Caucasus archaeology dept. (>>>...)

Central Asia and Caucasus archaeology department has three major research areas:

• Study of early agricultural sites of Neolithic and Bronze Ages in Central Asia. Special attention is paid to the sources of archaeological cultures, their connections and chronology. This also includes culture study of ancient, antique and early medieval cities of Central Asia.
• Study of Central Caucasus Eneolothic and Bronze Age archaeological cultures, including settlements and dolmens excavations.
  3. Genesis, evolution and chronology of archaeological cultures during the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages basing on excavations of burial sites in the steppes of South Russia (North-West Caucasus, South Siberia and Tuva). The department includes 28 research fellows.

Related links:

• Xiongnu (Hsiungnu) archaeology

3. Department of Classical Archaeology (>>>...)

The Department major studies are history and culture of the North Black Sea states and their interactions with the locals, including history, culture and archaeology of the North Black See archaic, hellinistic and roman time greek colonies. Greek-barbarian interactions at the North Black See region form the department’s scientific characteristic. The department includes 12 research fellows.

4. Stone Age archaeology dept. (>>>...)

Is one of the oldest research teams in Russia to study issues regarding the most ancient history of humans. They investigate Stone Age camps in the Russian Plain, Caucasus and South Siberia, paying special attention to common issues of the human development and culture, correlation development of the Old and New World Paleolithic, as well as paleolithic art. The Department includes a neolithic group to study the Neolithic at North-West and North Europe of Russia. The department includes 22 research fellows.

5. Used-ware analises (tracology) laboratory (>>>...)

The Lab’s major studies are used-ware analyses, tools typology and technology of all epochs starting from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages, paleoeconomical and paleohistorical reconstructions, including reconstructions of internal structure of sites and settlements, local economical differences and typology of economic systems, multipurpose research of mass material collections from Russia and the CIS countries. The Lab also works on developing methods for micro- and macro analyses of tools and their production technology. The Lab consists of 8 research fellows.

6. Laboratory of archaeological technology (>>>...)

The main purpose of the Lab is making analyses of archaeological artifacts using natural sciences methods in order to reconstruct ancient technologies and environment. Researches on palinology and osteology are made using methods of analytical chemistry and spectral analyses. Besides that the Lab works on issues of radiocarbon dating. It accepts samples taken from archaeological sites in Russia and CIS countries. Establishing cooperation with colleagues from foreign and home institutions is among the most important strategies. The Lab includes 11 research fellows.

7. Archaeological monitoring group (>>>...)

Major activities:

• Archaeological sites recording, monitoring and preservation
• Rescue excavation and field surveys of archaeological monuments: Lenungrad, Pskov, Smolensk and Murmansk regions in cooperation with construction and engineering companies.
• Creation of a database ARCHAEOGRAF for archaeological sites recording, monitoring, preservation and GIS-based analysis of archaeological data (Leningrad and Krasnojarsk regions, Karachaevo-Cherkessia). The group includes 6 research fellows.