The collection of archaeological artifacts from the Upper Paleolithic site of Sungir, stored in the State Vladimir and Suzdal Museum: the history of acquisition and scientific study

Abstract

The article is an analytical review of a museum collection of archaeological materials from the excavations of the Sungir site, which is one of the most famous sites of the Upper Paleolithic. The collection is stored in the State Vladimir and Suzdal Museum and is one of the most important parts of the museum funds. It’s distinguished by a high degree of study and is actively used in the main areas of the museum activity. The history of replenishment and the structure of the collection correspond to the dynamics of changes in the understanding of the site place in the Upper Paleolithic of the Russian Plain. The objects of the collection have long remained in the focus of attention of researchers, and they still retain the prospect of further study. The materials of the collection are mainly represented by stone tools, items made of bone and horn and by a set of inventory from burials. Since mostly only few artifacts from burials and anthropological materials were of interest to the scientific community, the scientific processing of the collection is carried out unevenly. The article describes the main categories of funeral inventory and gives overview of the current state of the collection. From a museum point of view, the collection fully complies with all regulatory requirements for the accounting and storage of items. The materials of the Sungir site have not only purely scientific, but also public significance, which allows them to be used in permanent exhibitions and other museum projects. A detailed analysis of the collection from the point of museum specifics makes it possible to simplify the work of archaeologists-researchers and emphasize its potential for further study.