Archaeology at St Petersburg University (from 1724 until today)

Abstract

We owe Professor Tikhonov warmest thanks for this brief history of academic archaeology at St Petersburg. As well as applauding the department's many achievements, readers of our Debate section will no doubt take note of a bleak period in its eventful history, one marked by a tendency to ‘substitute socio-political subjects for specialist courses’ and ‘the growing disparagement of highly skilled researchers and teachers’. If suitably candid authors can be found, we look forward to receiving similarly instructive intellectual biographies of archaeology departments and institutes from around the world.