“THIS YEAR IS A DIFFICULT YEAR FOR ME”: NIKOLAI KONSTANTINOVICH AUERBACH IN 1930

Abstract

The paper features materials of the last year of N.K. Auerbach (1892–1930) – archaeologist, historian and one of the organizers of Siberian science during the sunset of the “golden decade of local history”. Th e documents used contain information that is not reflected in official documents, and make it possible to recreate some pages of Siberian archaeology, allowing to recreate the spirit of the times and the atmosphere of scientific research, as well as to show the role of the scientist in the implementation of scientific relations between domestic and foreign scientists. Am ong N.K. Auerbach’s correspondents during this period are V.A. Gorodtsov, P.P. Efimenko, S.A. Teploukhov, B.E. Petri, S.N. Zamyatnin, G.K. Mergart, G.F. Osborne, A.M. Thalgren, V.M. Tolmachev, L. Savitsky, A. Breuil, J. de Baye, and others. The study has involved a considerable amount of documents from the central and regional archives, most of which are introduced into scientific discourse for the first time. Of particular interest are the letters by N.K. Auerbach to the famous Russian archaeologist and his teacher V.A. Gorodtsov. The study signifi cantly expands the information about the life of the prominent Siberian scientist who made a significant contribution to archaeology and the organization of scientific research in Siberia.