In the spring and summer of 2024, the Russian Geographical Society provides an opportunity for everyone interested in antiquity to take part in archaeological expeditions of the country's leading research institutes.
The project participants will gain practical research skills under the guidance of renowned archaeologists as well as experience in group interaction in solving practical problems. In addition to direct work at the sites, volunteers will enjoy fascinating lectures on history and archaeology, film screenings, master classes, and weekend excursions.
Russian-South Ossetian Paleolithic Expedition
Photo: Daria Stepanova
Dates: May 13-24, 2024.
Location: South Ossetia, the cities of Tskhinvali and Kwaisa, Kudaro caves.
The objectives of the expedition: to survey those areas of South Ossetia where objects of the Early Stone Age were previously found, to gather new collections of such items, to search for new sites of this time in different regions of South Ossetia.
Organizers and partners: Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Geological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vaneev South Ossetian Scientific Research Institute, Ministry of Culture of South Ossetia.
Fill out the application for participation.
Applications are accepted until April 14th.
International Archaeological Expedition to the High-altitude Lake Issyk-Kul
Lake Issyk-Kul, a view from space. Photo: wikipedia.org_earthobservatory.nasa.gov_NASA
Dates:
1st shift – June 3-13, 2024;
2nd shift – June 14-24, 2024.
Location: The Republic of Kyrgyzstan, the area between the ranges of the Northern Tien Shan Kyungei-Ala-Too and Terskei-Ala-Too at an altitude of 1,609 m above sea level.
The objectives of the expedition: to survey a group of underwater monuments on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. The work area includes both medieval settlement sites and funerary monuments of various eras. The main tasks include defining the boundaries of monuments and placing them on the map, determining the chronology of monuments based on identified fragments of ceramics, architectural details, and other finds, as well as sampling for natural science research.
Organizer: Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Fill out the application for participation.
Applications are accepted until April 14th.
The Oka Archaeological Expedition (settlement of Spas-Teshilovskoye)
Photo from the archive of the Oka Archaeological Expedition
Dates:
1st shift – July 1-14, 2024.
2nd shift – July 15-29, 2024.
Location: Moscow Region, Serpukhov City District.
The objectives of the expedition: to continue the study of the settlement of Spas-Teshilovskoye, an object of cultural heritage of federal significance (11th–16th centuries, the chronicled city of Teshilov). Since 2019, the Center for Paleoethnological Research has been conducting systematic archaeological work at this monument. In 2024, excavations will focus on the central site of the settlement, where previously preserved wooden remains from the foundations of 12th-century dwellings were found. Modern methods of archaeological 3D recording are used in the study. There is also cooperation with anthropologists, archaeozoologists, and soil scientists.
Organizers and partners: the Oka Archaeological Expedition, Center for Paleoethnological Research.
Fill out the application for participation.
Applications are accepted until May 17th.
Archaeological Expedition to Povetluzhye
Excavation work. Photo: Kostroma Archaeological Expedition
Dates: July 8-28, 2024.
Location: Kostroma Region, Sharyinsky District, Odoevskoye Village.
The objectives of the expedition: archaeological excavations of an early Iron Age settlement, picturesquely located on a high promontory of the right indigenous bank of the Vetluga River. The settlement of Odoevskoye correlates with the circle of monuments of the Vyatka-Vetluzhye culture of the Ananyinsky cultural and historical region (9th–3rd centuries BC). Some artifacts indicate the development of the site of the monument at the end of the 1st millennium BC – the first half of the 1st millennium AD.
Organizer: Kostroma Archaeological Expedition.
Fill out the application for participation.
Applications are accepted until May 31.
Staraya Ladoga Archaeological Expedition
Evening on Volkhov. Photo: Eduard Gordeev
Dates :
1st shift – July 18-29, 2024;
2nd shift July 30 – August 10, 2024.
Location: Leningrad Region, Volkhovsky District, Staraya Ladoga Village.
The objectives of the expedition: to continue the research of the complex of archaeological sites of Ladoga and its surroundings. In 2024, it is planned to conduct stationary excavations of the settlement and burial ground by the Zaklyuka River, continue research at the Zemlyanoye settlement, study the cultural layer of the settlement of ancient and modern times, as well as exploration work in the district of Staraya Ladoga to clarify data on individual monuments of the archaeological complex.
Organizers and partners: Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Staraya Ladoga Archaeological Expedition.
Fill out the application for participation.
Applications are accepted until June 7.
Artesian Archaeological Expedition
Photo provided by the Artesian Expedition
Dates: July 23 - August 14, 2024.
Location: Republic of Crimea, Leninsky District, north of the village of Chistopolye, Artesian Tract.
The objectives of the expedition: the preservation of the cultural heritage site "Gorodishche and Necropolis Artesian", the development of tourist sightseeing routes in the vicinity of the settlement. There are training courses for volunteers (archaeological drawing, Photoshop, Illustrator). Participation in the creation of a seasonal mobile archaeological exhibition.
Organizers and partners: East Crimean Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve, Moscow Pedagogical State University, Kerch Administration, Administration of Bagerovsky Rural Settlement, Administration of Chistopolsky Rural Settlement of Leninsky District (Republic of Crimea).
Fill out the application for participation.
Applications are accepted until May 31.
The Oka Archaeological Expedition (settlement II, Meshkovo)
Photo from the archive of the Oka Archaeological Expedition
Dates: August 1-29, 2024.
Location: Oryol Region, Uritsky District, surroundings of the village of Meshkovo.
The objectives of the expedition: to continue the study of residential buildings of the first half of the 1st millennium AD. In previous seasons, the foundation pits of three houses of the post-Zarubinets horizon of Rakhny-Pochep (the second half of the 1st – beginning of the 2nd century) were explored at the monument, and a building of the early Slavic Kolochin culture (5th-7th century) was discovered which was half explored.
Organizers and partners: the Slavic-Sarmatian Archaeological Expedition, the State Hermitage Museum, the Oka Archaeological Expedition, the Center for Paleoethnological Research.
Fill out the application for participation.
Applications are accepted until June 28.
Archaeological and Geographical expedition "Acra"
Photo from the archive of the archaeological and geographical expedition "Acre"
Dates:
1st shift – August 1-15, 2024;
2nd shift – August 16-30, 2024.
Location: Republic of Crimea, Leninsky District, Zavetnensky Village Council, village of Naberezhnye Chelny.
The objectives of the expedition: archaeological excavations of one of the most poorly studied monuments of the Bosporan Kingdom: the Greek city of Acra on the shore of the Kerch Strait, as well as archaeological exploration on the territory of the necropolis of the ancient city. In Acra itself, excavations of residential buildings of the Roman city will be carried out on the area of 100 sq. m. Previously, the remains of a household that burned down in a fire in the middle of the 3rd century were discovered here, in 2024 it is planned to cutback to study the neighboring household.
Organizers and partners: Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the State Hermitage Museum.
Fill out the application for participation.
Applications are accepted until May 30.
Please note that the fare to the meeting place of the group is paid by the participant themselves. There are age restrictions. Below, in the "Additional Info" section, you can learn more about the content of the expeditions and the conditions of participation in them.