Between 1 and 30 August, undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Faculty of History of Voronezh State University participated in the archaeological summer school “Severny Don”. The students were supervised by Elena Zakharova, a professor from the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History. The school was initiated by the Lipetsk regional public organization Arkheolog (headed by Alexander Bessudnov). It was held as part of the Divnogorie archaeological expedition (Voronezh Region, Liski District, Divnogorie hamlet, Divnogorie nature reserve) and was supported by the Presidential Grants Foundation.
VSU students spent a month there taking part in the on-site research of the unique archaeological site Divnogorie-9, which has been studied by VSU archaeologists in cooperation with their colleagues from Lipetsk and Saint Petersburg for 12 field seasons. At the moment, this is the latest Upper Palaeolithic site in the Middle Don, which dates back to 14–13 thousand years ago. Our students had an opportunity to delve into the postglacial period of universal catastrophe. Divnogorie-9 is a place well-known to global archaeology for the remains of about 100 wild horses which were found here. The animals lived not far from the dwellings of people. Traces of human presence are marked by flint and flake tools, the collection of which now exceeds 10,000 samples.
During the summer school, the students practised new methods of excavation and during evening lectures they had a chance to extend their theoretical knowledge. They also attended trips and excursions organised for them by the staff of the Divnogorie nature reserve.
