From Budapest, via Moscow, we began our journey to the Bashkir region. In the capital, Ufa, we visited the Karanayevo cemetery at the Bashkir National Museum under the guidance of Flarit Sungatov. Over the past two years, Bashkir archaeologists have uncovered new graves at this site, often noted for its parallels with Hungarian archaeology. Following the museum visit, we explored the renowned early medieval fortified site of Ufa-2, where we examined the results of excavations of its defensive trench and surrounding walls.
Crossing the Ural Mountains, we entered Asia at the Ural River and travelled through the scenic forested steppe of Bashkortostan, reaching the easternmost point of our 2016 expedition. Here, we joined the excavation of a kurgan cemetery near the village of Kalkan (meaning ‘shield’ in Bashkir). The site, previously disturbed by metal-diggers, has yielded artifacts associated with the Nyevolino culture. This culture, typical of the western foothills of the Urals, appears in this eastern region and offers fascinating insights into the history of the 7th and 8th centuries—critical years preceding the westward migration of some Hungarian populations. This period, once poorly understood, is becoming clearer thanks to recent discoveries.
The hospitality of our Bashkir colleagues, particularly Director Danyir Gajnullin, was truly memorable, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to all involved. The visit also facilitated preparations for cooperation agreements with the Bashkir State Heritage Protection Agencies and Bashkir State University. Together, we outlined plans for joint research into newly discovered early medieval sites and the re-investigation of previously published sites using modern archaeological methods.
Following our work in Bashkortostan, we travelled to Samara, located along the Volga River. Before departing, we hosted a Hungarian dinner for our Bashkir hosts, featuring a delicious slambuc expertly prepared by Zsolt Gallina.
After a 10-hour train ride from Ufa, we arrived in Samara, covering 700 km across what is traditionally considered the territory of Magna Hungaria. In Samara, archaeologist Dmitry Stasenkov welcomed us and guided us through the early medieval archaeological sites and landscapes of the Samara Volga Bend. We participated in the excavation of a 7th–9th century cemetery at Zhigulyovsky and visited Novinki-type sites in the southern Volga Bend. A highlight of our visit was tasting the region’s famous Volga smoked fish.
Bidding farewell to the Samara archaeological camp, we boarded a boat near Sirjajevo at a monument marking the former southern boundary of the Volga Bulgarian state and returned to Samara.
Continuing by train, we arrived in Kazan, the stunning capital of Tatarstan. Our first stop was the Ibn Fadlan exhibition, one of the highlights of our expedition. This remarkable exhibition provided a detailed overview of the historical and archaeological contexts of the 9th–11th centuries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Most notably, it showcased numerous new finds that further illuminate the eastern connections of Hungary's Conquest-era legacy.
Upon arriving in Tatarstan, we visited the exhibition dedicated to Ibn Fadlan's journey and engaged with local colleagues at the Tatar Archaeological Institute, named after A.H. Halikov and officially established in 2013. During our time there, we worked in their outstanding archaeological library and discussed the details of the Tatar-Hungarian scientific cooperation, which will focus in the coming years on publishing the complete findings from two renowned cemeteries: Bolshoye Tyigan and Tankeyevka. We extend our gratitude to Director Ayrat Sitgyikov for facilitating this collaboration.
We also had the privilege of examining artifacts from the Tankeyevka and Bolshie Tarhan cemeteries, housed in the Archaeological Museum of the Tatar National Museum and the Archaeological Museum of the Tatar Academy of Sciences. These were thoughtfully presented to us by Svetlana Valijulina, further enriching our understanding of the region's archaeological heritage.
A major goal of our visit to Kazan was to strengthen the international scientific ties of Hungarian archaeology, a mission supported by the Consulate General of Hungary in Kazan. Consul General Ferenc Kontra and Dr. Zsolt Spindler, Attaché for Foreign Economic Affairs, hosted the Tatar experts, institutional leaders, and members of the Hungarian expedition at the Consulate General. They assured all parties of their continued support for this promising cooperation, which marks a significant step forward in fostering Hungarian-Tatar academic relations.
In Kazan, we were joined by anthropologist Balázs Mende, who collaborated with local anthropologist Ilgizar Gazimzjanov to examine the anthropological material from two renowned cemeteries, Bolsije Tyigani and Tankejevka.
Following our museum visits and a tour of Kazan’s warehouses and historic downtown, we departed on August 15 by bus to Bolgar, the former capital of the Volga Bulgarians, situated on the banks of the Volga River. Bolgar boasts a museum dedicated to the history and material culture of Volga Bolgaria, as well as an open-air historical-archaeological park. This remarkable site was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2014.
On August 16, Bolgar hosted the opening of a two-week international archaeological summer university and conference, where notable Russian scholars presented their research. Our expedition leader, Attila Türk, contributed to the program with a lecture on the metalworking traditions of the archaeological heritage from the Age of Conquest.
After two productive days in Bolgar, we returned to Kazan by boat along the Volga. From there, we flew to Moscow. In the Russian capital, we visited the Marjan Collection, followed by the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where we reviewed the latest archaeological literature. We also explored the permanent exhibition at the State History Museum and capped off our trip with a stunning ballet performance of Giselle at the Russian Academy Youth Theatre.
The expedition concluded on August 20, when the team returned to Budapest, tired but satisfied with another significant contribution to the study of Hungarian prehistory.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our supporters for making this journey possible, especially to Hello Russia Travel Agency for their outstanding logistical support once again this year. Te Deum!
