Information potential of ethnographic primary source as basis of museum publications

Abstract

In this article, the museum subject is considered as the primary source of scientific research, which receives its final expression in the presented part of the collection: exposition and museum publications. It has been shown that the information potential of the museum subject, deciphered and recorded by the researcher – ethnographer and museum employee – on the basis of actual material and achievements of ethnographic science, becomes the basis of scientific museum publication.Museum publications, scientific, popular science publications are considered: determinants, catalogs, catalogs included in various editions of the museum, etc., as well as scientific reference determiners and illustrative-text catalogs of collections of museums of Armenia as the main ways to popularize collections of museums. It is noted that the element of the culture of material and intangible heritage, falling into the ethnographic collection of the museum collection, receives the status of a museum source, through the study, the publication of which is promoted, the national culture is transmitted from generation to generation, which, in turn, activates historical memory and affects the process of formation and/or activation of national identity.Today, there are few reference determinants for attributing an ethnographic subject. Based on this, for attribution of material on the ethnography of Armenians, scientific research and presentation of ethnographic collections of museums in Armenia in the country and beyond, it is proposed to use the catalogs considered in the article and some other few museum publications.An analysis of museum publications considered in the article shows the need for scientifically based attribution of a genuine museum item, wide popularization and use of reliable information concluded in it in scientific research and publications of the museum.