Description of the attraction
The Museum of Archeology of Syktyvkar State University officially received the status of a museum in 1982, although its history is about four decades old and is closely associated with the research activities of ethnographers and archaeologists of the university.
The first collection appeared in the museum in 1973, it was presented at the exhibition. In 1978, a permanent exhibition of archaeological material was arranged, arranged in a cultural-chronological order. Somewhat later, an ethnographic exhibition was organized. By the opening of the VI International Congress of Finno-Ugric Studies in 1985, a new exposition was designed, which lasted until 1998. In 1999, when the Faculty of History of the University was moved to a new building, a draft of a new exposition was developed, which was supposed to meet modern requirements. When creating the concept of the exposition, the unity of the material and spiritual aspects of culture was taken into account. The exposition was arranged in the same style. The foundation of the image was natural artifacts that are stored in museum funds. The exhibition space was divided into complexes, logically united into a single whole. The places for the passage of groups of visitors were clearly thought out, taking into account the maximum convenience for viewing the exhibits.
The museum complex is made in a neutral color scheme, which embodies the mythological color representations of the Komi-Zyryans. The museum exposition in a condensed form demonstrates the history of human adaptation to the environment in the North-East of Europe, acquaints the museum visitors with the traditions of the Komi-Zyryans, shows the organic connection between the methods of management and their habitat.
The artistic solution of the exposition of the Museum of Archeology and Ethnography creates the effect of "travel" in time. The system of presenting artifacts helps to "travel" both in perspective, from the Mesolithic to the 20th century, and in retrospect, from the 20th century. before the stone age.
The exhibition starts from the Mesolithic times. In a special showcase is the Adak cave sanctuary, which has been used for a long time. Focusing on this cult object allows us to dwell in detail on the mythological views of the ancestors. A separate exposition complex is dedicated to the development of metal production in the North-East of Europe.
A special place in the exposition is given to materials reflecting the medieval period of the development of these places. The sarcophagi and the reconstruction of the burial rite characteristic of the Vymsk culture are organically inscribed in the museum space. Nearby showcases display ceramics, metal and silver jewelry typical of this period.
The coverage of the historical process of human adaptation to northern life ends with a demonstration of ethnographic material that acquaints visitors with the traditional culture and occupations of the Komi-Zyryans: animal husbandry and agriculture, fishing and hunting, household production.
In the ethnographic part of the museum, agricultural tools, kitchen utensils, girls' and women's costumes are comprehensively demonstrated. The male half of the society was more mobile, engaged in fishing and hunting. Therefore, in addition to the main male tools of labor, men's suits are also presented.
On a separate podium - earthenware and copper dishes. The podium is located next to archaeological showcases, which display copper and clay artifacts from different archaeological eras. Such exposition allowed to represent figuratively the process of development of the technology for modeling dishes in space and in time.
On the central podium there are exhibits that demonstrate the process of making the canvas. This object of the exposition connects separate complexes of exhibits reflecting the main occupations of the Komi (woodworking and spinning) in the ethnographic part of the museum's exposition.
To increase the exposition area, the museum is equipped with open access cabinets, in which exhibits are located, which give an idea of the development of flint implements, metallurgical and ceramic industries, and the typology of household utensils.
The archaeological collection of the museum is known not only in the Komi Republic. Items from the first Veslyansky burial ground are exhibited in the State Hermitage (St. Petersburg). Items of cult sculpture were exhibited in museums in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Tartu (Estonia), and artifacts from the first Veslyansky burial ground were exhibited in Germany.
