International conference “The Golden Horde’s Historical and Archeological Heritage at Saratov Volga Region: Ukek – its Past, Present and Future” opened at Saratov State University today.
The scientific forum gathered historians, archeologists, geographers, museum workers from all over the country: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ufa, Kazan, Azov, Novosibirsk, Saratov.studies of Ukek’s historical hereitage is of great interest for foreign scientists from Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Finland, Serbia, Italy, USA, Moldavia. On June 4-6, conference participants are going to discuss issues concerning this unique historical monument. Their main goal is to find historical justification of Ukek ancient settlement and get it included into UNESCO cultural heritage list.
Conference opening ceremony was hosted by co-Chair of the Federal National and Cultural Tatar Autonomy Council, Chair of the Saratov Region National and Cultural Tatar Autonomy Council K.A. Abliazov. He said number of participants speaks of the great scientific interest towards the Golden Horde heritage. It could become a historical justification of Saratov’s history that might be much richer and longer than we think. “To brush Ukek up is the task for our young people. With the Governor V.V. Radaev’s help and support we could turn it into a museum complex. The work has begun”, added K.A. Abliazov.
In his welcoming speech, Saratov Region Governor V.V. Radaev talked about the significance of Ukek for our region and the country. “I am proud this forum has gathered so many scientists and experts. For Saratov Region, the medieval city of Ukek is a meaningful topic that opens new horizons. We need to draw maximum attention to it as any local discovery could lead to major changes. If we, Saratov region dweller, say Ukek is Saratov’s precursor, we need to reconsider our city’s chronology. It is very important to prove there had been settled life here before Zasekin and Turov. Every region has its sacred object that makes it recognizable and attractive. For us, these are Gagarin’s landing place and Ukek”, highlighted V.V. Radaev.
The Governor thanked all the guests and expressed his confidence that scientific work at the forum would be a serious argument for UNESCO commission.
SSU Rector A.N. Chumachenko said Saratov State University was chosen a conference host on purpose. First of all, SSU is the biggest scientific center of natural and human sciences. Secondly, SSUI scientists has long been studying Ukek (first research dates back to the 1920s). The work is done by the leading university scientists.
“Today we have a general historic outline of the Golden Horde. We know that it was one of the most powerful medieval states in Eurasia. It had developed cities; archeologists have found 110 settlements from the Danube to Irtish. One of the largest Golden Horde centers was Ukek situated at the southern part of modern Saratov. The choice of place was predetermined by its proximity to one of the best river passages and crossing of two trade routes: the Great Silk Route and the great Volga Route. It was multinational and multireligious city. It is very important for modern-day multinational Saratov, for understanding of its national and religious tolerance”, said SSU Rector.
A.N. Chumachenko highlighted the fact that in 2012 Saratov University scientists developed a project on creating Golden Horde Ukek museum complex. Russian Geographic Society also noticed the medieval city when it awarded SSU one of its grants for studying Ukek using geoinformational technology.
SSSEI Director S.Yu. Naumov called everyone to get rid of any political clashes and objectively estimate the Golden Horde’s role in our history on Ukek’s example. “There is multiple evidence of historical ties between Ukek and Saratov that we could not deny. The same way we could not deny that Russian nationhood is over 1000 years old. The Golden Horde left rich heritage that we use today”, said S.Yu. Naumov.
He also expressed an opinion that the Golden Horde like the Byzantium Empire was one of cornerstones Russian state as part of Eurasian civilization. Ukek is a cultural and historic artifact of world importance.
The plenary session finished with presentation by SSU Faculty of Geography Dean, Chair of RGS Saratov Branch V.Z. Makarov who told about the Russian Geographic Society history and the grant on Ukek studies. “Thanks to this grant, we could make real products that will speed up the project realization and help make Saratov Ukek one of the most interesting Golden Horde monuments. Our goal is to create a 3D model of the lost city that should demonstrate its main characteristics: urban planning, main architectural objects, roads, landscape, and natural environment of the XIII century. We are digitalizing the information we have at the moment and we plan to create a data base of cartographic and additional information”, shared V.Z. Makarov.
After that conference sections started their work in two universities – SSU and SSSEI. The guests would also visit Ukek, the Victory Park and Sabantuy-2015 celebrations.
