Investigation of the USSR Academy of Science Expedition to Establish the Exact Location of the Battle on the Ice (1957–58): Archival Materials

Scientific article

УДК 94(47)+910.4

DOI 10.28995/2073-0101-2021-1-82-92

Yuriy V. Krivosheev

St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Roman A. Sokolov

The Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation

Investigation of the USSR Academy of Science Expedition to Establish the Exact Location of the Battle on the Ice (1957–58): Archival Materials

Abstract

Study of archival documents of the Combined Expedition to Establish the Exact Location of the Battle on the Ice maintains increasing interest in Alexander Nevsky's life and impact of his military victories. Expansion of the source base on this topic is the authors’ key goal. They draw on unpublished journals of the expedition head Karaev G. N. in order to clarify most important aspect of the work conducted under his direction – large-scale exploration of the lake Peipus (Chudskoye) basin in 1957–58. According to the sources, this work was performed by specialized agencies; underwater diving was performed by professional divers. Initial locations of the search were set using information obtained from locals and results of the sounding. All results were recorded in acts, especially those not witnessed by Karaev himself (he could neither dive, nor work with special equipment). As early as in 1957, a “flat rock” was found in the shallow waters between Stanok and Vorony Islands, which was formed by a 30x10 m sandstone rock with an adjacent wall. In 1958, the artificial origin of this wall was proved; it was built in the 15th century and became submerged when the waters had risen. Survey of its stone showed that it rose above the surface in the 13th century, thus being a visible milestone, probably, the “Crow rock” (Voronii kamen’) of the chronicle. Due to structural features of the rock it rapidly deteriorated after the water level rise. Presently, the former “rock” remains only as a sandbank. No artifacts related to the 1242 events were found. This fact was scientifically described and documented by physicists who studied the rock with metal detectors. We need to consider the expedition acts in assessment of Karavaev’s results. It makes publication of these materials quite significant.

Keywords

Historical sources, archival documents, Battle on the Ice of 1242, Alexander Nevsky, G. N. Karaev, Combined Expedition of 1957-1958 of the Site of the Battle on the Ice of 1242.

Download the article: krivosheev_sokolov_doi

References

DOLGOV, V. V. Aleksandr Nevskii [Alexander Nevsky. In Russ.]. IN: Voprosy istorii, 2015, no. 1, pp. 17–36.

KARAEV, G. N., POTRESOV, A. S. Zagadka Chudskogo ozera [Mystery of Lake Peipsi. In Russ.]. Reprint. Moscow; Samolva, Pal'mir publ., 2018, 272 p.

KRIVOSHEEV, Yu. V., MANDRIK, M. V., SOKOLOV, R. A. Dnevnik poezdki na Chudskoe ozero akademika M. N. Tikhomirova (1958 g.) [Diary of the trip to Lake Peipsi of Academician M.N. Tikhomirov (1958). In Russ.]. IN: Russkie drevnosti. Sb. nauch. trudov. K 75-letiiu professora Igoria Iakovlevicha Froianova [Russian antiquities: Collected scientific papers: To the 75th anniversary of professor Igor Yakovlevich Froyanov. In Russ.]. St. Petersburg, 2011, pp. 387–406.

KRIVOSHEEV, Yu. V., SOKOLOV, R. A. Ekspeditsionnye dnevniki general-maiora G. N. Karaeva – rukovoditelya Kompleksnoi ekspeditsii po utochneniyu mesta Ledovogo poboishcha. Vtoraya polovina 1950-kh – nachalo 1960-kh gg. [Expeditionary Journals of Major General G. N. Karaev, Leader of the Combined Expedition to Establish the Exact Location of the Battle on the Ice: The Second Half of the 1950s – Early 1960s. In Russ.]. IN: Vestnik arhivista / Herald of an Archivist, 2020, no. 1, pp. 23-35. doi 10.28995/2073-0101-2020-1-23–35

Trudy Kompleksnoi ekspeditsii po utochneniiu mesta Ledovogo poboishcha 1242 g. [KARAEV G. N. (ed.). Proceedings of the Combined Expedition to Establish the Exact Location of the Battle on the Ice of 1242. In Russ.]. Moscow; Leningrad, Nauka publ., 1962, 254 p.

SCHENK, F. B. Aleksandr Nevskii v russkoi kul'turnoi pamiati: Sviatoi, pravitel', natsional'nyi geroi (1263–2000) [Alexander Nevsky in Russian cultural memory: Saint, ruler, national hero (1263–2000). In Russ.]. Moscow, Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie publ., 2007, 589 p.

About the authors

Krivosheev Yury Vladimirovich, PhD in History, professor, St. Petersburg State University, department of regional studies, head of the department, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, +7-921-929-34-57, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sokolov Roman Aleksandrovich, PhD in History, professor, Director of The Institute of History and Social Sciences, The Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, +7-921-307-80-31, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Submitted 4.04.2020, published (for citation):

KRIVOSHEEV, Yu. V., SOKOLOV, R. A. Deyatel'nost' ekspeditsii AN SSSR po utochneniyu mesta Ledovogo poboishcha v 1957-1958 gg. Po materialam arkhivnykh dannykh [Investigation of the USSR Academy of Science Expedition to Establish the Exact Location of the Battle on the Ice (1957–58): Archival Materials. In Russ.]. IN: Vestnik arhivista / Herald of an Archivist, 2021, no. 1, pp. 82-92. doi 10.28995/2073-0101-2021-1-82-92