Boris Grakov
Encyclopedia
Boris Nikolaevich Grakov ( in Onega
— September 14, 1970 in Moscow
) was a Soviet
Russian
archaeologist, who specialized in Scythian and Sarmatian archeology, classical philology
and ancient epigraphy
.
Grakov graduated from the Faculty of History and Philology of the Moscow State University
in 1922. He became the Doctor of Science
in history in 1939 and was a professor of the university since then. Since 1925 he performed excavations near Volga and Ural mountains
and since 1937 in the Ukraine
. Grakov systematized the huge amount of information on ceramic
stamps of the Ancient Greece
and created the full catalog of such stamps from the Northern Black Sea
region. In 1938-41 and 1944-52 he excavated Kamenskoe Gorodishche near Nikopol, a large center of the Bronze Age
and Iron Age
culture of Scythians. He worked out issues of the Scythia
n ethnic geography and on social structure and industries of Scythians and Sarmatians
. He pointed out main milestones of the 6th to 4th century BC Sarmatian culture in Volga and Ural regions. In particular, between 1945 and 1947 he proposed the four-phase periodization scheme for history and culture of Sarmatian tribes in those regions.
Grakov was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
and various medals.
Onega (town)
-External links:...
— September 14, 1970 in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
) was a Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
archaeologist, who specialized in Scythian and Sarmatian archeology, classical philology
Classical philology
Classical philology is the study of ancient Greek and classical Latin. Classical philology has been defined as "the careful study of the literary and philosophical texts of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds." Greek and Latin literature and civilization have traditionally been considered...
and ancient epigraphy
Epigraphy
Epigraphy Epigraphy Epigraphy (from the , literally "on-writing", is the study of inscriptions or epigraphs as writing; that is, the science of identifying the graphemes and of classifying their use as to cultural context and date, elucidating their meaning and assessing what conclusions can be...
.
Grakov graduated from the Faculty of History and Philology of the Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
in 1922. He became the Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
in history in 1939 and was a professor of the university since then. Since 1925 he performed excavations near Volga and Ural mountains
Ural Mountains
The Ural Mountains , or simply the Urals, are a mountain range that runs approximately from north to south through western Russia, from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the Ural River and northwestern Kazakhstan. Their eastern side is usually considered the natural boundary between Europe and Asia...
and since 1937 in the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. Grakov systematized the huge amount of information on ceramic
Ceramics (art)
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
stamps of the Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
and created the full catalog of such stamps from the Northern Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
region. In 1938-41 and 1944-52 he excavated Kamenskoe Gorodishche near Nikopol, a large center of the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
and Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
culture of Scythians. He worked out issues of the Scythia
Scythia
In antiquity, Scythian or Scyths were terms used by the Greeks to refer to certain Iranian groups of horse-riding nomadic pastoralists who dwelt on the Pontic-Caspian steppe...
n ethnic geography and on social structure and industries of Scythians and Sarmatians
Sarmatians
The Iron Age Sarmatians were an Iranian people in Classical Antiquity, flourishing from about the 5th century BC to the 4th century AD....
. He pointed out main milestones of the 6th to 4th century BC Sarmatian culture in Volga and Ural regions. In particular, between 1945 and 1947 he proposed the four-phase periodization scheme for history and culture of Sarmatian tribes in those regions.
Grakov was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
and various medals.