Correspondent of Rossiiskaya gazeta (Russian Newspaper) Yuri Medvedev met with Academician Vyachcslav Molodin and Nataliya Polosmak, Doctor of Historical Sciences, both laureates of the State Prize of Russia. 2005, in the field of science and technology, literature and arts. Let us remind: they were awarded this prestigious prize for diggings and research of monuments of the Pazyryk culture of the 6th-3rd century B.C. carried out at Gorny Altai.

The principal question to scientists was the following: what were they doing at the present moment? Molodin said that certain phases of the Pazyryk project* have already been completed and told about planned works in Siberia, in the area of confluence of the Tartas and the Om rivers. Last year burials of the Developed Bronze Age dated the 2nd millennium B.C. were under research there. These burials were discovered occasionally three years ago in the course of laying a fiber network by construction workers. And archeologists immediately started to carry out research works to study this unique immense necropolis-more than one thousand burial sites.

One of the most interesting features of this ancient monument is a combination of two cultures: migrants from the western part of modern Kazakhstan, who were pronounced Eurasians and representatives of the so-called Andron culture, began to occupy the territory inhabited by Siberian Mongoloids. Items found in the course of diggings-attributes of obsequies and the inventory-show us how these two ethnic groups influenced each other. Besides, this fascinating process can be analyzed on the basis of anthropological and genetic data to be obtained in the nearest future. One of the most intriguing finding is a unique casting form to manufacture bronze axes. Up to now analogous forms were discovered only in the eastern part of Europe. And now scientists are eager to learn how this thing was brought to these distant lands.

In 2006 is planned an expedition together with Mongolian and German colleagues to study the Pazyryk culture in Mongolia, in particular, on the territory neighboring the Ukok Plateau (already studied in Russia) which also promises to be sensational as that carried out at Gorny Altai. And after that Dr. Molodin is going to get back to the bronze necropolis in Siberia.

Dr. Nataliya Polosmak said that she was offered to head the National Council of Young Scientists. It is worth mentioning that similar regional public organizations established in the Soviet times still continue working in many regions of Russia. Thus, the field of activity of a relevant organization forming part of the RAS Siberian Branch is the whole territory of Siberia, it has its representations in each scientific center and university. In other cases such organizations are formed spontaneously-under the dictates of life. So. there are enthusiasts, and the only thing to do is to unite them under the aegis of the National Council, which will develop a state support program for young scientists.

And what about her passion-archeology? At the present moment Polosmak is preparing for a new project which would continue study of the Pazyryk culture. At the turn of the 1st century B.C. and the 1st century A.D. representatives of the Pazyryk culture were superseded by the Hunu, a nation that is hardly studied, but which went down in history as the establisher of the first nomadic empire. Russian specialists are ready to move to Mongolia to dig up the Hunnu burial mound to shed light on some mysteries of history.

Yuri Medvedev, Rossiiskaya gazeta (Russian Newspaper), 2005

Prepared by Olga BAZANOVA

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