May 09, 2021

The Past in the Past: Reading a Book about Soviet Archaeology


The Past in the Past: Reading a Book about Soviet Archaeology
Surprisingly delightful reading material. Photo and coffee table by the author.

Bibliophiles know that old tomes found in the backs of musty used book stores often make great gifts (books in online stores make great gifts, too!). With this in mind, it's hardly a surprise that my wife, knowing well my passions for old books, Russia, and archaeology, got me a 1961 book, Archaeology in the U.S.S.R., as a gift last Christmas.

The text is an English translation from a Russian scholar named A.L. Mongait. Dr. Mongait, it seems, was passionate about showing the West that Soviet archaeology was just as good as that elsewhere, and so he teamed up with Pelican Books and an English-speaking scholar to prove it. The book is a testament to the scientific prowess of the Soviet Union, reveling in the extensive work done on Russian lands. While the book does have pictures and diagrams (the cover touts "nearly 91 illustrations," meaning there are exactly 90), I've opted instead to use photos from the Hermitage Museum and my own adventures, since they're easier to see and much less grainy.

Overlooking the fact that I got literal Soviet propaganda for Christmas, it's right up my alley and offers a fascinating diversion before bed. While the Hermitage may be one of Russia's most-visited cultural treasures, every time I go, I'm drawn to the western side of the first floor of the Winter Palace. It's only accessible by a little-used staircase (it's near the one that was stormed in 1917, as marked by a marble plaque), and you get the sense that you aren't supposed to be there, but it's where all of the goodies from Russian lands are housed. You can see Greek statues anywhere; a 2500-year-old Siberian chariot, only here.

A basement hallway in the Hermitage
Who knows what's in those boxes? The quiet first floor of the Hermitage, home to some of its most enthralling treasures. | Griffin Edwards

What the book covers is extensive. As it was written in 1961, the territory addressed includes swathes of Central Eurasia, Ukraine, Crimea, and the Caucasus, places that are their own countries now (at least when international law is respected).

It is remarkable how breathlessly Mongait walks through the history of Soviet lands. From what must have been miserable semi-subterranean chalcolithic hovels to steppe kurgan burials to the glorious medieval palaces and libraries of Bactria, the implication is that Russia's wealth of past material culture and extensive work in archaeology demonstrates the greatness of Soviet society. At times, he even gets a little too carried away: the translator, an M.W. Thompson, sometimes replaces a tangent with a little snide, signed, bracketed commentary along the lines of: "[The author then gives a list of excavated sites. T.]". My favorite reads: "[This argument is ingenious but not wholly convincing. T.]".

Pazyryk chariot
Nice wheels: a complete chariot from a burial of the Pazyryk culture, 500 BC, Siberia. | State Hermitage Museum

Mongait is bragging, plain and simple. But there's a lot of cool stuff on offer, from excavated wine presses in Crimea to frescoes in Novgorod to Volga hill forts to coin hoards. A lot of the goods he mentions you can still see today, down in that quiet corner of the old Romanov place.

Central Eurasian plate
Since my name is "Griffin," is this a self-portrait?
A late-antiquity plate from the Soviet lands in Central Eurasia | Griffin Edwards

But what is most fascinating, I think, is the way Mongait approaches history. Scientists typically strive to be bias-free; they make educated guesses, but it's imperative to let the evidence point you towards your conclusion. Sure, people approach things with preconceived notions, but basic academic training should teach you to suppress that when doing serious scholarly work.

However, here, Mongait's communist sympathies are on full display, and, I would argue, demonstrates a major problem with Marxist scholarship. Mongait knows already that the world works exactly how Marx, Engels, and Lenin have said it does (in fact, he cites this trio more frequently than any real scientist). Thus, everything he relates is through this lens.

Tools are the most valuable things to find when excavating, says, Mongait. Why? Because they're the means of production, which is the most important part of society. Neolithic man may have been living in squalor and dying at age 30 from sepsis caused by a horsefly bite, but hey, at least there was no pesky private property to worry about. Social stratification is a key part of understanding a culture; whether the society is "tribal," "slave-holding," or "feudal" tells you the stage of development on the deterministic, one-way road towards the inevitable Marxist utopia that would, of course, end with the USSR.

Scythian axe
Not sure about you, but I think the chariot is way cooler than this piece of 2700-year-old Scythian battleaxe.
Which is saying something, because battleaxes are pretty badass anyway. | State Hermitage Museum

I'm a sucker for historiography; I think it's fascinating to see how people perceive their place in time, how they're situated between the past and future, and what they think the past is telling them (hence this blog post, and this one). Russia isn't alone – everyone sees their history in one way or another – but Mongait's book is a fascinating look at how Soviet scholars thought of history, and it's been a wild ride to read in 2021.

And, the next time you're in Petersburg, do check out the first floor of the Hermitage! It's a quiet refuge from hordes of tourists, and it's well worth it to check out cool stuff like this ancient ink:

Mummified arm
A piece of a mummified, tattooed arm from the Siberian burial site of a tribal chieftain, 500 BC. | State Hermitage Museum

You Might Also Like

Natalia Shishlina, archaeologist

Natalia Shishlina, archaeologist

In Russia’s southern regions there is a huge expanse of steppe called the Eurasian Belt. For thousands of years, this “belt” was the home for nomadic tribes. Natalia Shishlina, 40, is one of the few archaeologists in the world who studies these lost cultures.
The Valley of the Dead
  • March 01, 2021

The Valley of the Dead

A severe, remote valley in Ossetia inters the remains of one of Russia’s most revered film stars... and the mingled bones of countless ancients.
What Lies Beneath
  • May 01, 2021

What Lies Beneath

On the architectural heritage of Moscow that is being lost, bit by bit, though not without some resistance by dedicated scientists and activists.
Beneath Kremlin Walls
  • March 01, 2010

Beneath Kremlin Walls

Hundreds of layers of history lie buried beneath the cobblestones and brick walls of Moscow's Kremlin. But accessing them requires negotiating with the current residents of the crenellated fortress.
Sleeping on Graveyards
  • May 01, 2007

Sleeping on Graveyards

The Khakass are one of Russia's most ethnically complex nationalities. Their numbers are dwindling in the distant province that surrounds the headwaters of the mighty Yenisey river.
Ancient Peoples of the Russian Steppes
  • September 27, 2007

Ancient Peoples of the Russian Steppes

Scythians, Sarmatians, Amazons; all ancient inhabitants of Russia's southern steppes. These Mesopotamic, nomadic tribes were feared warriors and accomplished horsemen who warded off the mightiest rulers including Darius and Alexander.
Kosmonaughties
  • April 21, 2021

Kosmonaughties

“A**holes. Superpowers do not behave that way." – On April 13, Roscosmos head Dmitriy Rogozin criticized the U.S. Department of State in a Tweet for failing to mention Yuri Gagarin in a Facebook post that commemorates 60 years since the first man flew in space. Such a pity to forget who got there first.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The fables of Ivan Krylov are rich fonts of Russian cultural wisdom and experience – reading and understanding them is vital to grasping the Russian worldview. This new edition of 62 of Krylov’s tales presents them side-by-side in English and Russian. The wonderfully lyrical translations by Lydia Razran Stone are accompanied by original, whimsical color illustrations by Katya Korobkina.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
Murder and the Muse

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
White Magic

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.
Russian Rules

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.
Tolstoy Bilingual

Tolstoy Bilingual

This compact, yet surprisingly broad look at the life and work of Tolstoy spans from one of his earliest stories to one of his last, looking at works that made him famous and others that made him notorious. 
Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Bilingual series of short, lesser known, but highly significant works that show the traditional view of Dostoyevsky as a dour, intense, philosophical writer to be unnecessarily one-sided. 

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955