The city in archaeologists’ life in the 1920s and 1930s: along the streets of interwar Kyiv

Abstract

The article deals with the so-called urban themes in the history of archeology during the interwar period, the available sources and their informativeness for studying these themes on the example of Kyiv, the scientific urban center of the UkrSSR, are characterized. It is emphasized that urban space and orientation in it had has a significant impact on the science development, emergence and circulation of ideas, organizational/institutional formation and systemic transformations, interpersonal and institutional relationships within the intellectual community, the functioning of the professional community as a social institution. It was found that Kyiv, where the research life of Soviet Ukraine flourished without exaggeration, attracted many intellectual workers during the interwar period. Experienced researchers or beginners sought to get an education, position, practice; realize professional ambitions, not giving up hope to arrange satisfactory living and working conditions. Leading archeological institutions were located in the central part of the city: on Korolenka (now – Volodymyrska), Chudnovskyi (Tereshchenkivska), Victims of the Revolution (Trokhsviatytelska), Revolution (Mykhailo Hrushevskyi) streets, on Taras Shevchenko Boulevard, etc. However, the Leninskyi (Pecherskyi) district of that time was considered a suburb. Everyday and solemn research meetings (sessions, exhibitions, conferences, etc.) usually took place in the central part of Kyiv. Archaeological research was carried out here during the 1920s and 1930s, although earthworks were constantly supervised on the outskirts of the city suburbs. Many researchers of antiquities, old Kyivan inhabitants, lived “in the center”, but archaeologists who came here during the interwar period from other towns (Uman, Poltava, Berdychiv, Chernihiv, etc) mostly lived on the city suburbs. Transport connections and communications influenced the perception of distance and life tempo, including research activities. Despite the mediocre and partly difficult living conditions, the city left time and created a space for entertainment and intellectual leisure. Studying the outlined topics, the so-called spatial history of the humanities, is indispensable and promising for a thorough contextual representation of the archeology development in Ukraine. Key words: history of archeology, intellectual community, city, Kyiv, 1920s, 1930s.