Volunteers Discovered Artifacts Of Early Medieval Mari Culture In Mari El

Team of volunteers. Photo: Sharya local branch of the Russian Geographical Society
Team of volunteers. Photo: Sharya local branch of the Russian Geographical Society

Volunteers of the Russian Geographical Society from the Kostroma Region took part in the excavation of the ancient Mari monument in the Zvenigovsky district of the Republic of Mari El. Volunteers were invited by representatives of the State Budget Scientific Institution under the Government of the Republic of Mari El "Mari Scientific and Research Institute of Language, Literature and History named after V.M.Vasilyev".

The lands of Vetluga and the Volga territories adjacent to its mouth can be called the center of medieval Mari culture. The Middle Ages is represented mainly by ancient Mari monuments - fortifications and burial grounds. In addition to the previously known burial grounds (Veselovsky and "Cheremisskoye Kladbishche"), in recent years, the Mari archaeological expedition discovered: "Kuzinskiye Hutora" in the Kostroma region, Rosenikhinsky in the Nizhny Novgorod region and Vyzhumsky in the Republic of Mari El.

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Photo: Sharya local branch of the Russian Geographical Society
Photo: Sharya local branch of the Russian Geographical Society

On July 16, a team of volunteers of the Russian Geographical Society arrived in the village of Krasnogorsk, Zvenigovsky District, Mari El Republic. Campground was set up on the territory of the Mari Chodra National Natural Park. Excavations were carried out in the central part of the village. The monument was partially destroyed, so volunteers had to work quickly and efficiently.

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Ancient Mari belt. Photo: Sharya local branch of the Russian Geographical Society
Ancient Mari belt. Photo: Sharya local branch of the Russian Geographical Society

Over a week and a half of excavations, program participants discovered artifacts dating back, presumably, to the 10th century, and found unique clothing items - various jewelry, items of clothing, household items, and much more.

Excavations were also attended by Deputy Minister of Culture, Press and Nationalities of the Republic of Mari El Mikhail Matveev, Head of the Department for the Conservation, Use and Protection of Cultural Heritage Aurika Mikheeva. They helped to organize a cultural program for volunteers - a tour of the capital of Mari El, the city of Yoshkar-Ola.

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Ancient Mari bracelets. Photo: Sharya local branch of the Russian Geographical Society
Ancient Mari bracelets. Photo: Sharya local branch of the Russian Geographical Society

“We would like to express special gratitude to Tatyana Bagishevna Nikitina, Doctor of historical sciences, chief research associate of Mari Scientific and Research Institute of Language, Literature and History named after V.M.Vasilyev. Our stay and excavation work were carried out at a high organizational level thanks to her efforts. Our team of Russian Geographical Society volunteers also would like to thank the head of the Sharyinsky municipal district, Nikolai Serafimovich Glushakov, for trust and support with the organization of the trip to the Republic of Mari El", said representatives of the Russian Geographical Society.

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The first finds. Photo: Sharya local branch of the Russian Geographical Society
The first finds. Photo: Sharya local branch of the Russian Geographical Society

Smirnov Andrey, member of the Sharya local branch of the Russian Geographical Society