Samokvasov biography

Samokvasov Dmitry Yakovlevich Samokvasov Dmitry Yakovlevich Author, a world -famous historian and archaeologist, jurist, archivist, Dmitry Yakovlevich Samokvasov was one of the founders of the introduction of a scientific method to conduct archaeological excavations. The scientist stood at the origins of the creation of archival affairs in Russia, systematizing documents stored in state archives on the history of ancient Rus' and legal acts.

Samokvasov owns the works of the ethnogenesis of the Slavs and the history of the Old Russian state. Dmitry Yakovlevich was born on May 15 in the village of Stakhorshchina, in the Chernihiv province, in the family of impoverished nobles. Childhood passed on the parent farm, surrounded on all sides by ancient mounds and the remains of ancient settlements.

The picturesque surroundings, which hid many secrets of antiquity, aroused an interest in history from the boy. This interest was supported by the talented teachers of Dmitry in the gymnasium of Novgorod-Seversky and determined the further life path of young Samokvasov, who chose St. Petersburg University to receive higher education. During training at the law faculty, Dmitry Samokvasov chose the history of Russian law with his specialization.

Graduates of the department compiled a brilliant galaxy of Russian scientists who, in their studies, combined the history of the Russian state and the history of law. Continuing scientific activity after graduation, D. Samokvasov introduced a new important component in the study of ancient history: the mandatory inclusion of archaeological monuments. In the circle of sources for his scientific research, he additionally introduced data on ethnography, anthropology and linguistics, becoming one of the founders of an integrated approach to the study of history and law.

The long -term acquaintance and friendship of D. Samokvasov with Count A. Uvarov, who created the Moscow Archaeological Society and the Historical Museum, made archeology an important part of the life of Dmitry Yakovlevich. On the instructions of the Historical Museum, D. Samokvasov was aimed at studying the ancient mounds of the tribal association of the northerners, which were mentioned in the story of the temporary years.

This was the beginning of the innovative method: messages from the annals were supposed to find their material confirmation. The venue of excavations was also new - before that, the antiquities of the Black Sea region were mainly studied. Samokvasov participated in writing instructions for archaeological work. The scientist was fascinated by the idea of ​​summarizing all information about the mounds and settlements, he carried out cartography of the areas and established an accounting of archaeological monuments in Central Russia.

Thanks to D. Samokvasov, archaeological science received distribution in historical eras and the systematization of “pagan graves” located in the center and south of the Old Russian state. The conclusion about the existence of cities in ancient Rus' was reflected in the master's thesis of D. Samokvasov “Ancient Cities of Russia”, the defense of which took place in the year. The release of a book under the same name met fierce criticism of opponents, who believed that the Slavs had no cities “before Rurik”.

D. Samokvasov’s opinion that the Old Russian cities were centers of political, economic and cultural life firmly entered the history of Ancient Rus'. He was one of the first scientists who proved that the Old Russian state was born in the middle reaches of the Dnieper River. When studying the monuments of the Left Bank of the Dnieper, an archaeological expedition led by Samokvasov carried out excavations of the largest mound in Chernigov, known as “Black Grave”.

The artifacts discovered there were included in the golden fund of archaeological finds that reveal the features of princely life in ancient Rus'. Significant Chernihiv finds include the Turks of the horns represented by D.'s archaeological community, in particular, he described the silver overwhelming of a large horn in black and the bargaining two other horns, richly decorated with plant ornaments of metal dishes of ancient Rus'.

The work of archaeological expeditions D. He was the first to investigate the ancient history of the Kursk region. Pursuing the problem of the ethnogenesis of the Slavs, D. Samokvasov put forward a theory that had a wide walk in literature - about the origin of the Slavs from the Scythians. In confirmation of his theory, the scientist cited many facts testifying to the community of religious views, clothes and funeral rites of the Scythians and Slavs.

The honored professor of Moscow University D. Samokvasov conveyed his enthusiasm for history and archeology to students and followers. His public lectures were very popular among student youth. Samokvasov was one of the initiators of the creation of the Moscow Archaeological Institute. For several years, D. Samokvasov gave lectures to students of Warsaw University. A huge collection of archaeological antiquities, collected by Samovasov, repeatedly participated in the shows of the All -Russian archaeological congresses and was exhibited at the World Exhibition in Paris.The British Museum made a proposal to acquire his collection, but Dmitry Yakovlevich decided that all finds should be exhibited in Russian museums and transferred more than five thousand archaeological treasures to the historical museum for eternal storage in the year.

Participation in archaeological excavations caused Dmitry Yakovlevich a serious illness - the Caucasian malaria, from which he suffered from the last years of his life. Samokvasov died in Moscow on August 5, leaving behind books, textbooks, cartographic materials, drawings and illustrations that have not lost their significance, and materials from which are published in many publications without mentioning the author’s name.

The chosen works of D. Samokvasov Samokvasov D. Ancient cities of Russia. The grave antiquities of the northerners of the Chernigov region. About the excavations of the mound of a black grave in Chernigov. X, St. Petersburg. Northern land and northerners in settlements and graves. The origin of the Russian people.