Kulikovo Field Biography

She laid the foundation for the Museum "Tula Antiquities and numerous studies of the place of the great battle. One of those who stood at the origins of this expedition and went to the then still empty Kulikovo field was Andrei Naumov. Now he is the deputy director for scientific work of the Kulikovo Field Museum-Reserve. I liked to read books on history from the fifth class, and absolutely any.

And in the eighth grade, quite unexpectedly in the library, the book of Andrei Amalrik and Alexei Mongait “What is archeology” came across a book. She defined my path. Tell us about them. He even wrote a letter to the University of Tashkent, but received only a reply. And then a friend said that at the Pedagogical University at the faculty of history after the first year, archaeological practice is taking place.

So I went there. After a year of study, we had to work for three weeks in any archaeological expedition. Usually all the courses went to the Crimea, so we were tuned to this trip. But suddenly a man in shorts came to us, a shirt wrapped on a navel, in such a linen hat with a visor and called to dig a Kulikovo field. He said that we would look for the battle, where Mamai himself fought.

It was the famous scientist Mikhail Gonyan. After that, the course was divided into two groups, many definitely wanted only to Crimea. But there was no choice for me. I knew for sure that I wanted to engage in the archeology of the Tula Territory. And so the first place where I was was a mound on the Smolka River, located in the very center of the battle. At the same time, what a sin to hide, dug empty land.

They somehow found a bone there, rejoiced at her, jumped, but it turned out to be in vain. Our first attempt to find warriors who fell in the Kulikovo battle ended in failure. But we gained a very valuable experience of archaeological excavations. And most importantly, we have a team. Communication with people enthusiastic profession, a field life, determined that we remained on the Kulikovo field.

In general, the luck of my first trips is in people. They told us a lot about everything, explained. And we felt not just with diggers that find some kind of shards or rusty glands. We felt like equal participants in scientific research. Many interesting people came to the field: geographers, geophysics, geomorphologists and other specialists. They taught us a lot. And when we graduated from the institute, we were already formed archaeologists.

We understood that Kulikovo Field was a real scientific base. And the year, almost 10 years after the start of archaeological work on the Kulikovo field, a government decree on the creation of the Federal Museum-Reserve was issued. It was a big common victory. After all, not everyone understands that the excavations themselves are a vicious world, where you spend every day with the same people and there is no getting away from them.

For someone it is very difficult. But many, on the contrary, became closer to each other in such conditions. How many weddings were played after returning! The expedition is a check that not everyone goes through. Therefore, our profession is multifaceted: we must be both a psychologist and organizer. So archeology is not only a science, but also a way of life. Sometimes, in the evenings, just enough time to come home, dinner, and put your head on the pillow.

Of course, there is a family, children, their concerns, but mainly work, work and work again. Without her, nowhere. Now, of course, I am not only an archaeologist. We have to engage in a mass of other things related to the museum. And if I manage to visit the fields in the summer and devote myself to excavations, then this is very good. The most popular saying "All the most interesting in the edge." Archaeologists, as a rule, to trace some stratigraphic changes leave stripes of the Earth, called eyebrows.

Then they watch how the stratigraphy of excavations changed. And it usually happens that in these stripes of the Earth everything is the most interesting and is found. Still, for example, during excavations, skeletons are assigned some nicknames. We somehow dug in Butyrki and found a paired burial, where the bones of the hands were in contact, and we immediately called them Romeo and Juliet.

And once, at a depth of about five meters, we found branches of the 8th century BC. They scored them, the guys brought another 12th century tree, put them together and set fire to. They arranged such a historical bonfire. But in general, we have a notebook in which we write down any expressions, sayings, pictures, songs or poems. It is conducted right on the expedition.

We never dug in just digging. Everyone has their own scientific interests, even now, when we have already been able to do a lot, there are new directions and tasks that allow us to move forward. Now, for example, I am very interested in the craft production of Kulikovo fields.

And while there is an opportunity to go to the fields and publish my materials - I will do this. Either live in a profession, or to leave it. In general, looking back, you can understand that life has been lived not in vain and a lot of things have been done and a lot of things to do - and what is the most difficult in your profession?When the excavations end, you feel devastated.

But at the same time, you must realize that every day it brings you closer to the new field season. Recorded as part of the CoolPolepress project, Maria Kosheleva, Alexander Krivosheeva. Photo from the archive A.