On 3 June, the Institute of Oriental Studies hosted the official opening ceremony of the InteRussia Fellowship in Archaeology, welcoming young specialists from Egypt, Georgia, India, Iraq, Sudan, Turkey and Uzbekistan for an intensive academic programme focused on archaeological research, fieldwork practices and international exchange.
The opening ceremony featured welcoming remarks by:
— Lyana Dymova, Academic Programmes Coordinator at the Gorchakov Fund;
— Vasily Kuznetsov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Welcoming the participants, Lyana Dymova introduced the InteRussia programme and spoke about the reasons why archaeology has become one of the focus areas of the Foundation’s academic initiatives.
«We are witnessing not only an active struggle for the right to shape and preserve historical memory, but also, quite often, the distortion of that memory. Cultural and historical heritage frequently becomes a hostage to political confrontation. An objective scientific approach to archaeological research is one of the ways to counter this.
The Russian archaeological school is one of the leading schools in the world, renowned for its fundamental methodology and large-scale field discoveries. We are pleased that this programme will allow us to share Russian experience with international specialists, while also exchanging expertise with colleagues from around the world», Lyana Dymova said.
Vasily Kuznetsov welcomed the fellows on behalf of the Institute and outlined its extensive research activities in archaeology and Oriental studies.
«For many years, the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences has conducted large-scale research in archaeology, history and the study of the countries of the East. Today, our researchers participate in dozens of expeditions and international scientific projects spanning a vast geographical area — from Central Asia and the Caucasus to the Middle East and North Africa.
We are delighted to welcome the participants of the InteRussia programme and introduce them to the Institute’s academic schools, research approaches and fieldwork practices. I hope that this fellowship will become not only a source of new knowledge and professional contacts for our colleagues, but also a foundation for future scientific cooperation», Vasily Kuznetsov noted.
During the fellowship, participants will cooperate with leading Russian archaeologists and researchers, explore contemporary approaches to archaeological studies and cultural heritage preservation, and exchange professional experience with colleagues from different countries.
The InteRussia Fellowship in Archaeology is implemented by Mezhdunarodniki Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation in cooperation with the Gorchakov Fund and the Institute of Oriental Studies with support from the Tavolga Foundation and the Presidential Grants Foundation.