Вклад Восточной комиссии Императорского Московского археологического общества в исследование Кавказа (1887-1915 гг. )

Abstract

The research activities of the Imperial Moscow Archaeological Society founded by count A. S. Uvarov in 1864 were first concentrated mainly in the fields of Russian history, archaeology, traditional culture. The 5th Archaeological Congress held in 1881 in Tiflis laid the foundation for systematic studies of the Caucasus. Further archaeological, historical, folklore and linguistic researches among different peoples of the North Caucasus resulted in the establishment of the Oriental Commission as part of the Imperial Moscow Archaeological Society in 1887. The aim of the Commission was to study all non-Slavic peoples of the former Russian Empire. Since the Commission comprised specialists of mostly Caucasian origin that worked in various scientific and educational institutions of Moscow, peoples of the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia became central to their research. In 27 years the Oriental Commission conducted a number of archaeological expeditions throughout the Caucasus; its employees were engaged in searches, investigation, translation and publication of diverse manuscripts and printed materials on various peoples of the Caucasus, made a huge contribution to the identification, restoration and preservation of valuable cultural artifacts of Caucasian history for future generations; contributed a lot to the education of the first national intelligentsia representatives among different peoples of the Caucasus who were to explore their native land. The results of this truly herculean work that can hardly be overestimated were systematically published in several periodicals. A series of works of the Ancient East (journal) published by the Oriental Commission are especially noteworthy. Not only academic works of the Oriental Commission employees were regularly published but also the records of its regular meetings at which these works had been discussed carefully were published in the Ancient East. A careful study of all these documentary sources has allowed the author to not only have a close look at the history of the creation of the Oriental Commission but also evaluate that enormous amount of work carried out at the turn of the 20th century. Moreover, researches conducted by members of the Oriental Commission largely determined the path of development of Caucasian studies in the 20th century.