You are Welcome to Participate in the Archeological and Geographical Expedition to the Tuva Valley of Kings

Photo is provided by participants of the expedition
Photo is provided by participants of the expedition

The Russian Geographical Society announced the start of a competition for participation in the international Complex Archeological and Geographical Expedition to Study the Tunnug Kurgan in the Republic of Tyva. Young men and women aged 18 to 35 years (inclusive) can take part in the expedition. 270 volunteers will be able to participate in the 2019 field season. The technical support of the expedition is organized by the Expeditionary Center of the Ministry of Defense.

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Photo is provided by participants of the expedition
Photo is provided by participants of the expedition

The Tunnug Kurgan is located in the floodplain of the Tunnug and Uyuk rivers, near the Chkalovka settlement in the Piy-Khemsky district of the Tyva Republic. It is part of the so-called Valley of Kings, where many "royal" kurgans of the Scythian time are located. According to preliminary data, the burial of the Tunnug Kurgan is the largest and the earliest Scythian monument - it is dated about the 9th century BC. Presumably, the kurgan stands on the permafrost, so there is a chance to find preserved organic matter under its stone embankment. In other words, members of the expedition have the opportunity to witness the most interesting archaeological discoveries.

In addition to the excavations, an eventful cultural program was prepared for the volunteer team: lectures by archaeologists from the Institute of History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences, sports events, themed days, and visits to museums and sights of Tuva and neighboring regions.

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Photo is provided by participants of the expedition
Photo is provided by participants of the expedition

There are three shifts of the expedition:

June 1 - June 30, 2019.

July 1 - July 31, 2019.

August 1 - August 31, 2019.

You have to fill out an application in order to take part in one of the shifts. We pay special attention to the fact that, due to difficult weather conditions, priority is given to young people in good physical shape: compliance with health group 1-2, the presence of sports categories, and compliance with the GTO (ГТО) standards are an advantage.

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Photo is provided by participants of the expedition
Photo is provided by participants of the expedition

IMPORTANT: encephalitic vaccination is compulsory required. It must be done well in advance! (immunity should arise before the arrival of a volunteer to the expedition).

Applications are accepted until April 10, 2019 (inclusive). You have to fill out a form to participate. More information in the Competition Regulations.
 

Let us recall that the first field season of the RGS expedition to study the Tunnug Kurgan took place in 2018. The expedition was attended by 45 employees of the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences and 90 volunteers of the Society from Russia, USA, Canada, Great Britain, Latvia, India, Ecuador and other countries of the world. During the archaeological work on the periphery of the kurgan, an arrowhead, ceramics fragments, a Chinese coin and a burial belonging to the early Middle Ages were found.

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Photo is provided by participants of the expedition
Photo is provided by participants of the expedition

The project is implemented with the benefit of the grant from the President of the Russian Federation for the development of civil society provided by the Presidential Grants Foundation.