From the history of “The warehouse of local antiquities”: On the 130th anniversary of the creation of the first scientific museum in Chersonesos

Abstract

The article is devoted to the 130th anniversary of the opening of the first scientific archaeological museum in Chersonesos — “The warehouse of local antiquities”. The personal contribution of the head of the excavations K. K. Kostsyushko-Valyuzhinich to create an institution was marked. At the present stage, the reserve continues and develops many of the initiatives initiated by K. K. Kostsyushko-Valyuzhinich, including those related to museum activities. The difficulties that arose during the implementation of the project, including those related to the opposition of the brethren of the monastery of St Vladimir, are analyzed. It is indicated that the archaeologist repeatedly applied to the Imperial Archaeological Commission with proposals for organizing the storage of finds in Chersonesos. Descriptions of the museum collection and its internal structure are given. The significance of the museum for the social and cultural life of Sevastopol is proved by the attention paid to excavations in Chersonesos by the leading regional publication of that time — the newspaper “Krymskiy vestnik” [Crimean journal]. K. K. Kosciuszko-Valyuzhinich told reporters about the finds, about the organization of the storage of antiquities, about the exhibits that were of particular interest to visitors. Often, the archaeologist himself appeared in the “Krymskiy vestnik” with author’s materials. The influence of the Romanov dynasty on the development of the “The warehouse of local antiquities” was shown. In particular, K. K. Kostsyushko-Valyuzhinich personally conducted excursions for representatives of the royal family and spoke about the prospects for museum construction in Chersonesos to Emperor Nicholas II. The article discusses the origin and early years of the formation of one of the largest archaeological museums in the South of Russia, which continues to study and popularize the heritage of the largest city-state in the Northern Black Sea region.