On August 14 at 15:00, the Altai Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography of Altai State University invites everyone to the Open Days of Archaeology. As part of the event, museum director Yaroslav Frolov will present the exhibition "The First Miners and Metallurgists of Altai: from the Bronze Age to Akinfiy Demidov" and lead the excursion "Altai in Antiquity".
The exhibition celebrates the 300th anniversary of mining production in Altai. It explores ancient mining and metalworking as the foundation for the region’s mining industry in the 18th century. The project is supported by the Foundation "History of the Fatherland" and the Free Economic Society of Russia.
The exhibition will showcase authentic artifacts from the oldest mine in Siberia – the Vladimirovka deposit, located in Charyshsky district of Altai Krai. This site dates back to the middle of the 4th millennium BC. The ancient mine is situated high in the mountains. The peak of ancient metalworking occurred during the middle and late Bronze Age. This era is illustrated by casting molds for various bronze tools, such as spearheads and daggers, as well as copies of gold jewelry. Particularly noteworthy are the bimetallic daggers from the Scythian period, featuring bronze handles and iron blades. The exhibition also includes rare finds from the Murzinsky mine in Kuryinsky district of Altai Krai, which began to be exploited under Akinfiy Demidov in the 18th century.
The exhibition is being developed in several stages. The first stage – the opening and presentation – took place on May 17 during the “Night of Museums.” The main exhibition of authentic items was unveiled and will remain on display in our museum throughout the year. The second stage of the exhibition opening is scheduled for September, as part of the IV International Altaic Forum and the LXV Russian Archaeological and Ethnographic Conference of Students and Young Scientists (RAESK-65). During this phase, materials for the mobile section of the exhibition will be introduced. This will include copies of exhibits and various reconstructions of clothing details, jewelry, and horse harnesses from the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography of Altai, Altai State University, and the Altai State Museum of Local History. Some copies have been produced using modern technologies such as 3D printing. Select copies are already on display at the Open Days of Archaeology at ASU, as stated by Yaroslav Frolov.
The museum director added that the traveling exhibition will be hosted at various venues, including schools and municipal museums.
At 15:30, Yaroslav Frolov will lead a tour titled "Altai in Antiquity," which encompasses all periods of the region's ancient history from the Paleolithic era to the late Middle Ages. The excursion features over 1,500 authentic artefacts. Each section of the exhibition showcases unique finds, including objects of ancient art. Among the most striking exhibits are the reconstructions of ancient burials from the Bronze Age and the Turkic period, meticulously created by the museum staff. A dedicated section highlights unique items from the anthropological collection. A substantial part of the exhibition is devoted to reconstructions of weapons used by warriors in the Middle Ages.
We invite everyone to join us on August 14 at 15:00 and 15:30 at the following address: Barnaul, Dimitrova St., Building 66, Room 122 (Altai Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography). Free entrance. Recommended age: 10 and above.
From August 14 to 17, the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences will hold the Open Days of Archaeology. This educational and popular science initiative aims to introduce a broad audience to the history and archaeology of our country, its archaeological and historical monuments, and the methods used in archaeological research. In 2025, the Open Days of Archaeology will be held for the fourth time.