History of unearthed treasures in the spotlight of a new collection of the Presidential Library

Ahead of the 160th anniversary of foundation of the Imperial Archaeological Commission, the Presidential Library has built up a collection, which includes publications, as well as archival documents, which cast light on its establishment and development.

The first archaeological institution in the Russian Empire was founded by Alexander II in February 1859 on the proposal of Count Sergey Stroganov, and constituted a department in the Ministry of the Imperial Court. Meetings of the commission were held in the Winter Palace. The commission supervised the private search for objects of antiquity, and also had the right to undertake necessary archaeological excavations.

The Imperial Archaeological Commission existed until 1919 and was the only state body in Russia that had the mission to study, collect and protect ancient monuments. Foundation of the commission was part of “great liberal reforms”, which were introduced in Russia in the mid-late 19th century. It showed that the Russian society considered national objects of antiquity as a source of special pride that required preservation, study and careful treatment. The practices of the Commission formed the basis of the modern regulation of archaeological research and the system of protection of monuments in Russia. Today the successor to the Imperial Archaeological Commission is the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Until 1882, the Imperial Archaeological Commission was headed by S. G. Stroganov, who was followed by A. A. Vasilchikov. Four years later, A. A. Bobrinsky was appointed chairman of the commission. Under his control the commission became the only institution that issued permissions for excavations at state-owned, urban and peasant lands (anywhere, except for landowners’ lands).

Of particular interest is a book “Exhibition of Antiquities Presented by the Imperial Archaeological Commission to the Emperor. 1894”, which has been digitized by the Presidential Library and made available on its portal. A preface written by Alexander Spitsyn, archaeologist, prominent specialist in medieval Russian inscriptions, reads in part that “the unusually rainy summer affected the total number of archaeological excavations made in different areas of the empire this year”. But nonetheless the range of exhibits on display was impressive. The most significant collections, according to Spitsyn, “were from Armenia, Ryazan, St. Petersburg, Perm, Nizhny Novgorod and Yeniseysk Governorates, while the finds from Kerch catacombs, an icon from Chersonesus, a treasure trove of Greek gold coins discovered in the town of Reni and a marble lion from Kerch - were the highlights of the exhibition”. The display showcased objects of antiquity from over 40 governorates and regions of the empire. A collection of accidental finds, which was acquired by A. A. Spitsyn, member of the Archaeological Commission, in Cherdynsky District, Perm Governorate, was also put on display. A large marble lion welcomed guests at the stairs inside the Imperial Hermitage. Found in Kerch in an estate of Voloshkevich, it was acquired by the Archaeological Commission for 1,000 rubles..

A book “Russian Treasure Troves: A Study of Antiquities dating from the Time of the Grand Principality” (1896) authored by N. P. Kondakov, Honoured Professor of the Imperial St. Petersburg University, is available on the portal of the Presidential Library. It provides a detailed description of unearthed Russian antiquities dating from the pre-Mongol period and their significance for the Russian archaeology.