Archaeological digs

Archaeological digs of the republic are an object of interest not only for tourists but also scientists. For understanding the importance of those digs there should be explained that the archaeological history of mankind includes a few periods. Firstly, the Stone Age was subdivided into periods, i.e. the Palaeolithic (Early Stone Age), the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), and the Neolithic (Late Stone Age). Then goes Bronze Age with the periods of the Eneolithic and the classical Bronze Age. After that follows Iron Age with the periods of the Early Iron Age (Anan’ino culture, Pyanobor culture) and the Middle Ages (Imen’kovo culture, Volga Bulgaria, Golden Horde). In Tatarstan, there are archaeological monuments of all these periods, including Anan’ino and Pyanobor cemeteries, or Imen’kovo fort. They gave names to Anan’ino, Pyanobor, and Imen’kovo archaeological cultures, the monuments of which are known far outside Tatarstan. The principal sites of ancient cities of the Volga Bulgarians, such as Bilyar, Bulgar, Suvar, Oshel’, Kazan, Kashan, Dzhuketau are situated in Tatarstan.