A joint research programme of the Department of Archaeology of Pázmány Péter Catholic University and the Hungarian Prehistory Theme Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

The archaeological study of Hungarian prehistory has experienced a welcome resurgence in recent years, largely due to the re-establishment of connections between Hungarian and Russian archaeology. After a hiatus of approximately 30 years, Hungarian expeditions have returned to the Urals, rekindling collaboration and advancing research in this significant region.

In 2015, we continued the work initiated the previous year in the Ural region of Russia as part of a cooperative framework involving the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Pázmány Péter Catholic University. This year’s research plan expanded to include five sites of key importance to Hungarian prehistory. While continuing our previous excavations in the Perm and Chelyabinsk regions, we also established connections with archaeological organizations in Samara and Izhevsk. These collaborations allowed us to study local "Hungarian suspect" finds and set the foundation for future joint excavations of Hungarian relevance.

The expedition took place from July 26 to August 19, 2015. Supported by long-term cooperation agreements with the Russian Academy of Sciences and universities in the Ural region, the research marked another milestone in Hungarian prehistory studies.

Key activities included:

  • Samara: Processing and illustrating Hungarian-related finds for a planned joint publication, as well as conducting anthropological sampling.
  • Izhevsk: Studying artifacts from the Nyevolino archaeological culture.
  • Perm: Participating in the excavation of the Boyanov cemetery, recognized as the most significant 10th-century cemetery in the Ural region, for inclusion in a joint publication.
  • Chelyabinsk: Continuing work at the Uelgi site and touring major early medieval sites across the southern Urals, the area where the ancestors of modern Hungarians are believed to have developed.

The expedition concluded with a visit to St. Petersburg, where we explored the Hermitage Museum’s collections and exhibitions.

Our team comprised both seasoned archaeologists and archaeology students, the latter playing a vital role in ensuring the continuity of future research. The expedition was a major professional success, yielding not only new research data but also fostering long-term partnerships. Notably, cooperation agreements were established with universities and archaeological centers in Samara and Bashkortostan.

Beyond the academic achievements, the mission also strengthened Hungarian-Russian scientific and political relations, paving the way for future collaborations in the field of Hungarian prehistory.


Participants:

Dr. Attila Türk, Dr. Péter Langó, Zsolt Gallina, Ágnes Füredi (archaeologists), Dr. Balázs Gusztáv Mende (anthropologist), László Lichtenstein (archaeozoologist), Andrea Ilés-Muszka, Polónyi Emese, Árpád Konnáth, Dániel Budai (archaeology students), Miklós Antal (turkologist, re-enacter), Mátyás Szöllősi and Sándor Czigóth (photojournalist and cameraman)