The article presents the results of archaeological excavations conducted in 2020-2021 at the Furmanova site in the Sverdlovsk District of Irkutsk. The site is a part of the Glazkovsky Necropolis complex, a Neolithic ones, and is geographically located on the left bank of the Angara River valley, near the right estuarine surface of the Irkut River. The excavations revealed two cultural–bearing layers, complicated by stratigraphic disturbances caused by long-term economic use of the area. Layer 1 was identified at the boundary between the disturbed soil layer and the upper part of Middle–Late Holocene loams. It contains sporadic finds of smooth-walled pottery from the Iron Age to the Middle Ages, as well as a localized complex with traces of metallurgical activity (iron blooms) and Iron Age pottery dated by soot residue to 1953±29 BP (GV–5177), calibrated to 39 BCE – 200 CE. Layer 2, unevenly distributed across the excavation area within the same Holocene loams, included materials from a temporary settlement dated to the Late Neolithic – Early Bronze Age. Features of the settlement included hearths, utility pits, and a sandstone slab arrangement. Artifacts comprised stone tools (from preforms to finished items), ceramic vessel fragments, and unique objects such as a terracotta sculpture of a burbot–like fish. Stratigraphic and archaeological analysis suggests that this layer formed over a relatively short geological period. The assemblage contains a significant number of markers indicating a predominant Late Neolithic settlement complex (5^th–3^rd millennia BCE). The study highlights the site’s role in understanding the ritual and domestic practices of ancient populations in the Angara region, emphasizing the cultural continuity and anthropogenic impacts on the Glazkovsky Necropolis area.

The article analyzes the results of an archaeological and ethnographic expedition, which conducted in the north of Krasnoyarsk Krai in 1958–59. Archaeological work was realized under the supervision of R.V. Nikolaev, a researcher at the Krasnoyarsk Regional Museum. The following sites were surveyed: Serkovo, Sukhaya Tunguska, Surgutikha, Podkamennaya Tunguska, a Ket settlement in the village of Stary Sulomay, and a Neolithic – Early Bronze Age settlement in the Vysoky area on the Ket’ River. Most of these sites were previously unknown. The analysis of the expedition results was carried out using R.V. Nikolaev’s field diaries and reports, which stored in the archives of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Museum of Local History and the Yenisei Museum-Reserve; a significant part of the information is published for the first time. Archaeological collection was divided between two museums - the Krasnoyarsk Regional Museum and the Yenisei Museum. This publication describes the dating items, which transferred to the funds of the Yenisei Museum. Among them are fragments of ceramic vessels similar the pottery of the Serovo culture, discovered during excavations of a dwelling in the Vysoky area on the Ket’ River, ceramics of the Ust-Kova type of the early Middle Ages from the Podkamennaya Tunguska site, vessels and an iron plate bracelet of the Lesosibirsk culture of the 11th-14th centuries AD, as well as an iron knife, most likely related to the material culture of the Kets. These materials supply the existing ideas about the material culture of the taiga population of the Lower Yenisei in various chronological periods and can become the first step towards restoring the entire volume of data obtained by the archaeological and ethnographic expedition of 1958-59 in the valleys of the Ket’, Yenisei, Kureika and Podkamennaya Tunguska rivers.

The Oka Plateau surrounded with mountain ridges is the part of the Sayan Mountain system which is difficult to access. The inaccessibility of this plateau has held the relevance from the ancient times till the middle of the XX century. In this relation for a long time mountain passes had special significance as the more important places on the paths of the people’s routs. This study shows the perspective of the mountain passes investigations in terms of left traces of material culture and not utilitarian intellectual activities. The purpose is determining the time and trend of the human groups’ movement in the frames of the Oka Plateau. The study considers the three mountain passes. The first of them is an example of the human groups’ communication in- side the Oka Plateau territory formed as far back as Stone Age. On the example of the stone mound built on the mountain pass in the Sailag riverhead, we can say about one of the paths of the human penetration to the territory of the Oka Plateau from the Angara Region. At the same time the questions concerning the age of installing this stone mound and its purpose remained unsolved. The authors consider argumentative issues related with the most known for the present days mountain pass Nuhu-Daban, which is located on the path leading from Tunka River valley to the Oka riverhead and further to the Oka River basin. This mountain pass was several times described in details in the records of travelers and researchers in XIX century that attracts the interest to this place even today. Nowadays there are suggestions about artificial character of the hole in the rock at the pass. Occurred investigations show the hole in the rock originated by the natural process.

The article is devoted to the artillery of Nerchinsk fortress and Nerchinsk District in the second half of the 17th – early 18th centuries. Structurally, the study is divided into three parts. In the first part, based on a study of archival documents, the authors show how the artillery park of Nerchinsk developed from the time of the foundation of city until 1710. At the initial stage of development (1658–1684), only about 7 pieces (including «copper cannons» and iron wall guns) arrived in Nerchinsk District. In 1684–1685, due to the threat of a military conflict with China, the number of cannons sent to Transbaikalia increased sharply (abo ut 18 pieces), a significant part of them, including one mortar, were intended for subsequent shipment to the Albazin fortress in the Amur region. All these guns had a small caliber and weight. In 1686, a mortar and 20 regimental guns, with a caliber of 2 pounds, were sent from Moscow to the south of the Far East as part of F.A. Golovin's regiment. These pieces, together with the artillery transported to Nerchinsk from Albazin, constituted the armament of the Nerchinsk District in 1690–1710. In addition to the data directly on the guns, the article provides information on the material base necessary for servicing the mortar, as well as supplies for the manufacture of explosives for its grenades. Data on the Nerchinsk gunners is also provided. The second part of the article ex-amines 17th century cannons from the Military-Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineering and Signals Troops collection, brought to St. Petersburg from Nerchinsk in the 19th century (including those subsequently lost). Most of them are 2-pound «copper» cannons, which probably were part of the artillery of F.A. Golovin's regiment. In addition, unique examples are described, such as the 15th-century arquebus by master Yakov, the copper cannon of Yakim Nikiforov, which probably participated in the defense of Albazin in 1685, Venetian ship cannons, etc. Comparison of data from historical documents and museum descriptions allows us to correlate some of the real samples with documentary references. For example, the 3-pound cannon of Ivan Novgorodets with one of the two guns that became the first artillery of Nerchinsk in 1658. The third part includes the publication of the document «Reception list of various military equipment and supplies of the Nerchinsk, Telenbinsk and Eravinsky forts» (1690).

The article examines the ideas of the center of the Russian Empire about the transport development of the Russian Far East at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The source for the study is the «News of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society», published between 1884 and 1903. The relevance of the work is due to the incompleteness of the transport development process in the region and the important role of representations in it. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the introduction of some new sources and materials into scientific circulation. The object of the study is the representations of the center of the Empire, which were formed in the process of interaction between the government and the public of the capitals from the views characteristic of these groups – in the form in which they appear on the pages of the «News of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society» for 1884–1903. The purpose of the work is to identify the reflection of these ideas about the transport development of the Russian Far East in the «News of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society» for 1884–1903. The main tool of the study is the comparative historical method. It is noted that the main attention was paid to those communication routes that were useful for the creation of transit transportation and required corresponding measures to improve them. In this regard, water transport, namely river and sea transport, was considered first and foremost. It was they who were most often spoken of as the most promising access routes for the transit railway. It is concluded that the measures proposed in relation to different types of transport depended on the general government policy in the region. It is noted that it is expedient to further study the representations about the transport development of the Russian Far East.

The article reviews the material of independent researcher D. Y. Pustozerov «From the history of naval artillery. Medium-caliber artillery: casemates or towers? Advantages and disadvantages» and the analysis of the above arguments about the choice of the Russian Naval Department of the scheme for the placement of medium-caliber artillery on squadron battleships of the fleet for the 1898 Program and the conclusions drawn by the author on their basis is carried out. The relevance of the review is based on the fact that in the reviewed article the author incorrectly stated the problem (the choice of the layout of medium-caliber guns) is argued by abstract reasoning not based on factual historical material. The terminology used by the reviewed author is briefly analyzed, with an indication of the actual terminology in force at that time. A critical analysis of the information provided by the author of the reviewed article was carried out, and the valid grounds for choosing the type of squadron battleship of the Russian Navy with casemated or turret-mounted medium-caliber artillery were considered. The research method in the form of a comparison has obtained results that refute the very problem of choice and argumentation. The article does not confirm the conclusions of the reviewed author and refutes the thesis about the construction of a certain «technological and easy-to-build, operate and repair casemate battleship» for the Russian Navy. Since such projects themselves were implemented for the Baltic Fleet, the Borodino series of battleships and their development, the Emperor Paul I. For the Black Sea Fleet «Potemkin» and its development «John Chrysostom». As a conclusion, it is suggested that in research it is reasonable to pose a problem, carefully select the source material, introduce sound research tools and, making conclusions confirming or refuting the question posed, adhere to the facts and not apply personal attitude to the compared material.

This article analyzes various factors affecting the adaptation of peasant settlers in the Irkutsk province. The settlers were of various nationalities and religions, but they shared a spirit of hard work, freedom of action, and love for the land. Those who went to Siberia were typically peasants of average income, yet willing to work hard to achieve a good harvest. This reform had a positive impact on Russia's geopolitical situation, as Siberians demonstrated strength, courage, and patriotism during the Great Patriotic War, both in battle and on the home front. By this time, the children of the settlers had also grown up and joined the Red Army; however, the Golendry (Golden peasants) were recruited only into the labor army. The reasons for these differences are presented in the study. Informants helped to describe the positive and negative experiences of their relatives in the harsh climatic conditions of Eastern Siberia. Additionally, information is provided on the construction practices of the first settlers, particularly on differences with older settlers, as well as the culture and spiritual life of the Golendres (Dutch), Belarusian, and Polish peoples who are still alive and residing in the well-known villages of Pikhtinsk, Turgenevka, and Vershina in the Irkutsk region. The analysis was conducted in both scholarly articles and interviews with informants in these villages, as well as in articles dedicated to the research. The author concluded that the «settlers» do not plan to leave their already native Siberian places; on the contrary, at various times, young people are ready to live and work in rural areas, provided that work and housing are available.

The article examines the main aspects of the journalistic and political activities of V.V. Shulgin, one of the most prominent figures in the public life of the Russian Empire in the last decade of its existence. This well-known politician, publicist, and memoirist lived for almost a century, witnessing a kaleidoscope of events from the last Romanovs to the Soviet stagnation. The article analyzes the content of the publications of the newspaper «Kievlyanin», which vividly responded to the most important events taking place in the country. The article is an attempt to complement the political portrait of V.V. Shulgin and to assess his journalistic legacy. Vasily Vitalievich's path to the State Duma and his activities as a deputy are shown. The politician was a staunch nationalist, and he paid special attention to the centralization of Russia and the fight against separatism on the outskirts. The testimonies of contemporaries who highly appreciated the abilities of V.V. Shulgin as an orator and publicist are given. The events that were reflected in the activities of the politician, such as the Beilis case or the First World War, are noted. It shows the ideological struggles of V.V. Shulgin, his place in the Duma polemic on the eve of the revolutionary events. In the proposed article, the authors provide archival materials and publications from periodicals that can significantly complement the political portrait of V.V. Shulgin and can be used to create his complete scientific biography. The article provides an overview of historiography and includes detailed quotes that vividly convey the «spirit of the era», which allows for additional source-based research to introduce little-known factual data into circulation.

The article examines the events related to the causes and main stages of the preparation of administrative reform in the Altai District in the first decade of the 20th century. It was during this time that significant economic transformations took place in the Altai region. The crisis in the mining industry and the mass migration to the south of Western Siberia forced the district administration to seek new ways for the economic development of the region. In meetings with the central government a new course was developed for the modernization of the district's economy. It was necessary to fundamentally change the approach to preserving the natural resources of the Altai region. One of the tasks in the preparation for the reform was to protect the region's forests from unauthorized logging and forest fires which caused dam-age not only to the nature of the entire south of Western Siberia but also to the lives of the local farmers. Another significant aspect of the reform of the bureaucratic apparatus was the district administration's desire to create a mobile model of administration. The goal was to significantly reduce the cost of maintaining the bureaucratic apparatus while also establishing a mobile management system that could quickly and effectively address potential conflicts with local residents or tenants. Gradually, the reformers began to envision a new administrative structure for the Altai region. The primary focus of the reform was to generate revenue through land-lease agreements with farmers and the exploitation of the Altai region's forests. As a result, the district administration's reform projects were evaluated, and the most favorable one was implemented.

The article describes the history of an anti-Bolshevik underground organization previously unknown in historiography, which arose in the city of Zima, Balagan district, Irkutsk province, in early 1918, and the Ziminsky partisan squad formed by this organization. The article reveals that this underground organization was created by a group of soldiers who returned to their hometown after the collapse of the Russian Army. Unlike other anti-Bolshevik secret military organizations in Eastern Siberia, the Zima underground had no regular officers. According to their political views, a significant part of the members of Zima underground were supporters of the Socialist-Revolutionary party. In April 1918, after an unsuccessful attempt to seize power in the city and hold re-elections of the Council of Deputies, they were forced to flee to the forest, where they formed Ziminsky partisan squad. In July 1918 Ziminsky partisan squad helped units of the Czechoslovak Corps to capture the city of Zima and prevented the destruction of strategically important railway bridge across Oka River by the Reds. Based on a wide range of sources, the article reconstructs biography of leader of Ziminsky partisan detachment, Vladimir Abramovich Shishlyannikov, a member of the Subbotniks sect. The appendix to the article contains documents on the structure and main activities of the Ziminsky partisan detachment: reports by V.A. Shishlyannikov to one of the military leaders of the Czechoslovak corps R. Gaida and the Supreme Ruler of Russia, Admiral A.V. Kolchak, as well as the lists of participants of the partisan squad. The introduction of these historical sources into scientific circulation significantly expands the ideas available in historical science about the activities of anti-Bolshevik under-ground organizations in Eastern Siberia in the first half of 1918.

The first State Children's Music School in Irkutsk appeared in 1923 from the depths of the Irkutsk Music College, opened in September 1922. The music school as part of the college was self-sufficient, as the time of its opening corresponded to the New Economic Policy. Tuition for college students and schoolchildren was paid, with the exception of the poor and the children of teachers. The school was led by the heads of the music college. The music school represented the 1st stage of mass musical and pre-professional education. Children under the age of 14 were trained there, the duration was 3 years, depending on the specialty, the main ones were: piano, strings, wind instruments, solo and choral singing. The availability of classes was determined according to the teaching staff. 256 people were recruited in the first year. Financial problems, insufficiently qualified leadership, lack of interest from higher party bodies, chronic shortage of personnel, and low salaries for teachers led to the fact that since September 1931, The Irkutsk Music College, along with the teachers and students who wanted to leave, was transferred to Krasnoyarsk, where it was merged with a local secondary music institution. The music school, which separated from him, remained in Irkutsk. This was facilitated by the petition of the local musical elite and the active actions of the school's teachers. Soon, the school began to teach children in a seven-year program. Then the music classes were combined with the school for difficult-to-educate children into the School of Artistic and Musical Education. Mikhail Kondidovich Flegontov was appointed head, Olga Sibbul became the head teacher. Until 1936, the school operated independently, and since September, the East Siberian Music College has been operating on its basis. Irkutsk Music School has become the most important center of regional music education in the East Siberian region.

This work is the first part of a review of publications on the issues and problems of organizing labor reserves in the Irkutsk Region. In this study, this system is examined in the pre-war period. The prerequisites for the creation of a labor reserve system in the Soviet Union during the third five-year plan are considered. The study of this issue is based on an analysis of publications in periodicals of the specified period, published in various cities of the region, as well as relevant regulatory legal acts. The attention of the press was focused both on campaigning for the implementation of recruitment (including non-fulfillment of the recruitment plan), as well as on the functioning of the entire system and the results of training. The quantitative characteristics of the conscripted contingent in various educational institutions, including in the districts of the Irkutsk Region, as well as the financial and material support of the labor reserve system are reflected in detail. A comparative description of the draft plans of students in various regions and regions of Siberia is given. For example, 4,600 people were supposed to be enrolled in educational institutions in the Irkutsk Region for the first time, while 34,660 people were planned to graduate throughout Siberia over the same period. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, publications were not detailed, giving way to summaries of military operations and other wartime events.

The article is devoted to the conditions for the functioning of orphanages and boarding schools in Khakassia during the Great Patriotic War. The work is based on archival sources, most of which are introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. During the war years, the number of orphanages sharply increased due to the evacuated children’s institutions and the growing number of homeless and neglected children in the region. The main attention in the article is paid to the problems of welfare support to the children in orphanages. Numerous examples showed that underfunding, insufficient supplies and a weak material base were typical for most orphanages and boarding schools in Khakassia. It is indicated that the food problem was partially solved by subsidiary farms, called for to become an additional source of food for orphanages and boarding schools. Unsatisfactory medical care and unsanitary conditions in many children’s institutions caused the spread of highly infectious diseases among the pupils. The threat of epidemic outbreaks in children’s institutions intensified the work of medical workers. Sanitary and hygienic measures in orphanages were aimed at controlling infectious diseases. The lack and some-times the absence of qualified teachers significantly complicated the educational process and worsened discipline. The appointment of persons without pedagogical experience and knowledge as heads of orphanages worsened the situation. By the end of the war, the issue of specialists began to be resolved through training and advanced training of employees. Enterprises, institutions, collective farms, public organizations, and citizens provided substantial material and welfare support to the children in orphanages. Monetary, food, and clothing funds were engaged in fundraising to support orphaned children.

In the post-war years the personnel issue in the field of physical culture and sports became acute in the Irkutsk region. There were not enough specialists and coaches in physical education organizations, especially those with specialized education. The leadership of the Regional Committee on Physical Culture and Sports used all available means to solve the problem: the organization of courses and seminars for the training and advanced training of physical education teachers and coaches, the placement and rotation of personnel, etc. The main hopes were pinned on the Irkutsk Regional College of Physical Culture (ITFK) which became a forge of personnel for all areas of physical education in Eastern Siberia and the Far East, as well as demobilized veterans who had experience in sports work before the war. As a result of the personnel policy, this problem has been resolved. A peculiar result of the work of the regional sports organization was the participation of Irkutsk athletes at the first post-war Olympic Games in 1952. Helsinki (Finland), where Irkutsk residents participated: discus thrower Elizaveta Petrovna Bagryantseva, runner in the 4x800 m relay Georgy Gavrilovich Ivakin, shooter Pyotr Pavlovich Nikolaev, and the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne (Australia), where Irkutsk residents Konstantin Grigorievich Vyrupaev, a classical wrestler, and Vladimir Konstantinovich Safronov, a boxer, became Olympic champions. The article examines in detail the activities of the heads of the Regional Sports Committee in the post-war years: L.F. Sizova, K.I. Shaprova, V.P. Igolkin. The experience of the personnel policy of local authorities in providing specialists to local sports organizations is analyzed. Quantitative data on the updated staff is provided. Biographical information of key figures of the regional sports committee is given.

The article is devoted to the peculiarities of recruiting students to the Irkutsk Polytechnic Institute in the 1960s. This was an extremely difficult and at the same time interesting period of transformation of the Mining and Metallurgical Institute into a Polytechnic Institute. In order to implement the law «On Strengthening the Connection between School and Life and on the Further Development of the Public Education System in the USSR», the IPI, along with all other universities in the country, had to revise its admissions campaign methods. The article provides information about the reorganization of the Institute's Admissions Committee, the establishment of a permanent staff that handled admissions throughout the year, and the specific challenges faced in working with applicants. It also highlights the growth in the number of IPI employees involved in career guidance activities. The situation was further complicated by the fact that these changes occurred simultaneously with a major reorganization of the entire educational process. New faculties and departments were established. This led to a temporary but excessive workload for the teaching staff. The new admission rules had an impact on the student body. The new priority task for universities, set at the state level, of attracting employees from enterprises to education also caused difficulties. Many of these employees did not have the necessary education and showed a low level of knowledge even at the admission stage. Therefore, the article focuses on identifying the causes of low academic performance among students and addressing this issue. The article also highlights the achievements of the Irkutsk Polytechnic Institute's management in organizing the educational process and developing the creative potential of students.