In Celebration of Aleksandr Leskov

Aleksandr Naymark* Hofstra University

Professor Aleksandr Leskov is multiple institutions, and kurgans like the Maikop barrow known in Ukrainian and Russian coordinating the daily work of to the burials of the Belo- archaeology as “Sasha the dozens, if not hundreds, of rechenskaia culture filled with Golden Hand.” Indeed, gold people. Leskov manages such objects brought by the Levantine jewelry and toreutic from his undertakings with an iron will trade of the 14th and 15th excavations in the Crimea and and in turn inspires devotion from centuries CE. The last link in the south Ukrainian steppes those he is supervising. During logical chain leading to Leskov’s constitute a significant part of the Adygeia excavation seasons discovery of the now famous the collection in the Ukrainian of the 1980s, I remember him Uliap barrow field was his Museum of National Treasures in repeating again and again: “You knowledge of the collection of Kiev, while his excavations on have only one excavation season the local museum - a cauldron the northwestern Caucasus in your life. It is this very one. The delivered there by a tractorist (Adygeia) formed the core of the next season will be different and from Uliap field belonged to the “Golden Chamber” in the will take place in a different year. type which, as Leskov knew, Moscow Museum of Oriental Art. You have to do the maximum could be found only in the richest Leskov is undoubtedly respon- today.” Doing the maximum of of Scythian burials. sible for more discoveries of itself should maximize the ancient gold than any living results. Scythian archaeologist. The third and most important factor is Leskov’s personal Given that the odds of finding Yet his success requires a philosophy: “The archaeology of true treasures in archaeological second talent, the ability to select the steppes has its own dialectic excavations are about the same the best excavation site through — only quantity brings quality as for winning a major lottery consideration of all the geo- there.” In other words, only large, jackpot, everybody unavoidably graphic, topographic and long-term excavations requiring asks: what is the secret of historiographic data about the years and years of self-discipline Leskov’s never-fading luck? The steppes. For example, his and patience can bring major truth is, there are no miracles selection of Adygeia for the results. To test this conclusion, which lead to buried treasure. At excavations in the 1980s began one would need, like Leskov, to least three serious factors have from his understanding that the excavate more than 400 barrows always significantly increased major passes through Caucasian with thousands of graves, the the probability of Leskov’s mountains were the shortest lion’s share of them belonging to success. route to the rich coastal areas of the Bronze Age period. In fact, the Black Sea and further to the Leskov’s most important books The first is his organizational centers of Near Eastern civili- are not devoted to his ability which enables him to zations in the northwestern spectacular Scythian finds but marshal substantial resources Caucasus. These considerations rather deal with the less effectively. Excavation of a major were supported by his analysis impressive but equally in- Scythian barrow involves of a great number of exciting teresting period of the late obtaining sizeable funding and discoveries in the area ranging Bronze Age and the transition to supplies, interacting with from the early Bronze Age the Early Iron Age in the steppes.

12 In short, the secret of The archaeological expedition Kherson archaeological team Leskov’s success is prosaic: his of Kharkov University, headed by sang a song with semi-political dedication and focus, his ability the then young Boris Andreevich Russian words to the tune of the to mobilize knowledge, and hard Shramko, served as Leskov’s first famous “Sholom Aleyhem.” work. What shaped this man’s school of field work. It was during Exposure of the “Zionists” strong personality? Born in a visit to this expedition, that followed, and since their chief Kharkov, Ukraine, on 19 May Professor Bibikov, Director of the Leskov tried to rescue them, he 1933, Aleksandr lost his father to Institute of Archaeology of the was accused of failing to provide Stalin’s purges at age four and Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, sufficient “political guidance” in grew up with his mother partially noted the bright student and his division. Note was taken of in Ukraine and partially (during invited him to apply for graduate the fact that Leskov’s expedition the five years of World War II) in school in Kiev. An early doctorate did not have a single member of evacuation in Central Asia and in 1961, the publication of the the Communist Party in it. After Azerbaijan. His interest in ancient first book in 1965, and major a short delay, Leskov was fired art and archaeology goes back success in field work promised on 20 April 1973. As if it were not to the age of thirteen — as a Leskov a great career. His image enough, this measure was sixth-grader he came across a as a very promising young followed by an unofficial stack of books on the ancient scholar was certainly reinforced moratorium on any publications Orient while visiting a cousin by the epic sum of one million by Leskov and even on any studying history at Baku Uni- rubles (a worker’s daily salary reference to his work in printed versity. This interest quickly being 1.59 rubles), which he matter produced in Ukraine. For developed into a passion and squeezed from the Ministery of the next three months Leskov even pushed into second place Melioration of the USSR for the was unemployed and then was chess, where Leskov already excavation of endangered “sent” to the institute of showed great promise by monuments in Kherson province. cybernetics of the Ukrainian earning “master candidate” On the basis of this financial Academy of Sciences, where he status at the age of 15. (To this support, the first Soviet was to take part in the day he still can play blindfolded department of contract archae- development of the keyword three matches simultaneously.) ology was formed in the Institute vocabulary for a computer search His lack of interest in natural of Archaeology of the Ukrainian system being designed for sciences almost turned Leskov’s Academy of Sciences. The archaeological databases. This high school studies into a following decade was a busy “appointment” lasted for a year disaster, but fortunately the time filled with huge field and a half and very much grades on the high school projects, a large number of resembled involuntary con- diploma were not the major publications, honorable official finement intended to prevent his criterion for university admission appointments such as the acting having any connection with real at that time. Entrance examina- editorship of the three-volume archaeology. tions were more important and, Archaeology of Ukraine project, given Leskov’s field of special- and even some recognition No one at all familiar with ization, the ones that counted beyond the Iron Curtain. For Leskov would expect him to have were those in humanities, i.e. example he was invited to accepted this defeat. He cut his literature, history and languages. consult on the volume The First losses and used this time to Horsemen in the Time-Life complete the gigantic text of his Books series, and a special habilitation dissertation “The number of Antike Welt was Pre-Scythian Period in Southern devoted to Leskov’s work Ukraine,” which he submitted for on Scythian barrows. His consideration to the Moscow discoveries even won him Institute of Archaeology of the an important state prize. Academy of Sciences of the USSR. The Department of Yet, in the weird, Scythian and Sarmatian unstable political climate of Archaeology of this leading the Brezhnev “Era of institution deemed this work Stagnation” almost any- ready and assigned the date for thing could be pregnant public defense. Yet the story of with unexpected trouble. At this dissertation turned into one a New Year’s party held in of the most famous political the Kiev Archaeology scandals in the Soviet archae- Leskov and his associates at Institute in 1972, four ology of the 1970s. The so-called the Uliap excavation. members of Leskov’s external review from the

13 Department of Archaeology of turn this case into the beginning was issued in 1980 leading to the Moscow University was com- of an academic “war.” Leskov, creation of a special archae- pletely positive as were the however, chose another ological department in the examination reviews provided by approach. Within the next Moscow Museum of Oriental Art. the three major specialists in the several months he reworked That is when somebody in the field employed in the process of 60% of the text (as the official administration of the Ministry of the defense as the official rules required for the re-defense) Culture remembered about opponents: Academician and and in less than in a year brought Leskov, who was offered the Director of the State Hermitage his dissertation to the same opportunity to head the new Museum, B.B. Piotrovskii; the committee again. This time even venture. Director of the Moscow Rybakov wanted to avoid Department of Scythian and confrontation and sent an Several successful excavation Sarmatian Archaeology, Pro- unofficial message to Leskov seasons in the Northern fessor K.F. Smirnov; and the Head asking him to submit the work to Caucasus followed. Among the of the Department of Scythian another committee (it could also discoveries were stunningly Archaeology at the Kiev Institute be done at Moscow University, or interesting archaeological of Archaeology of the Ukrainina in the Leningrad or Novosibirsk monuments — the first Scythian Academy of Sciences, Dr. A.I. Divisions of the Institute of sanctuaries of the type described Terenozhkin. There were a Archaeology), but Leskov refused by Herodotus. As if this were not number of unsolicited laudatory to do so. This second time the enough, they were (quite in external reviews from leading entire archaeological community Leskov’s tradition) full of rich specialists such as Professors A. was alerted and all the members finds. The 1982 season alone P. Griaznov and I. M. D”iakonov. of the habilitation dissertation yielded almost a thousand No objections were raised in the committee were present. As a objects of precious metals, course of the discussion. And yet, result, there were enough among them the now famous when the ballot box was opened, positive votes to pass the Uliap silver rhyton, an amazing one third of the balls turned out dissertation, although there was sculpture of the High Classical to be black. This meant that the exactly the same number of black period. This looked like one of the dissertation had failed. This balls (eight) in the box as in the miracles which the Soviet unprecedented discrepancy first case. bureaucracy always expected between the publicly-asserted but never really achieved — a quality of the dissertation and Although victorious, Leskov governmental decision and the the secret vote meant only one found himself in a difficult allocation of modest funds had thing: the small circle of situation. Primarily a field immediately brought sensational committee members closely archaeologist by vocation, he results. Stunned by this, the associated with the Director of was confined to the editorial State Committee for Science the Moscow Institute of department in the Museum of the assigned huge funds to the Archaeology, Boris Rybakov, History of Religion and Atheism archaeological work of the sadly famous for his anti- in Leningrad. An optimist, he kept museum, which allowed Leskov Semitism, unanimously cast the hoping for the best. Meanwhile to hire new people, eventually negative vote. Indeed, Rybakov he continued publishing — four turning the museum’s Depart- was known to say publicly about of his books came out during the ment of Ancient Art and Material Leskov: “So long as I am alive, following four years. Culture into the second largest this ‘American’ will never work in archaeological institution in an institution of the Academy of “Stay ready and opportunity Moscow. As a result several Sciences.” Most disturbing was will come,”says Russian folk more excavation projects in the the thought that, even with this wisdom. By the very end of the Northern Caucasus were pre-determined negative part of 1970s, it became clear even to started, and the work of the the vote, it could have come out some members of the institution expanded into Central differently if all members of the governmental elite that the Asia and Siberia. The finds of committee had been present on brainless melioration policies and Leskov’s expedition attracted that day. In fact, several people, the unrealistic “plans” requiring attention in different countries, including Professor Otto Bader, exceedingly high production and a traveling exhibition of them were so sure that the quality of levels from collective farms had began to make the rounds of the the work would result in a led to the mass destruction of world’s capitals. This coincided positive vote that they did not archaeological monuments, with a time of great hopes — even bother to attend the especially in the agricultural Gorbachev started the Pere- defense. The majority of the regions of the eastern part of the stroika process, allowing such committee was appalled and Soviet Union. In response to this politically dubious figures as drafted a petition, threatening to problem a government rescript Leskov to travel and even receive

14 temporary appointments abroad. continuation of his professional What does Aleksandr Leskov Within the next decade Leskov life. Many of our joint ac- do now that he has celebrated held a number of honorary quaintances were more than his 70th year? If you ask him fellowships in all kinds of skeptical — Leskov did not even about the essence of his present European institutions and short have a command of spoken life, he will tell you that he is on term teaching positions in several English. But he studied the a mission to increase the major European universities. language and tried, and he awareness of the ancient worked and pushed. Of course cultures of the Eastern Europe in It was in 1990 at the height there were people who the American academic com- of all these activities when, after understood the situation, saw his munity by showing the pivotal being a member of Leskov’s efforts and helped. Leskov told role of the steppes in the team and a personal friend for me many times how grateful he formation and development of eight years, I notified him about is to Professors David Stronach, Eurasian civilizations. Two years my plans to emigrate to the Philip Kohl and Holly Pittman, ago he organized the first major United States. He was not happy without whose encouragement professional archaeological tour with the fact, but merely said he would have lost the faith. through the monuments and something which I believe was a museums of Ukraine. He has part of his credo: “An archae- recently joined the efforts of ologist should be close to the It is already the fourth year Professor Renata Holod to land, while by leaving the country that Leskov has been hosted by organizes a center of Ukrainian you cut these ties.” Thus it was the Museum of Archaeology and archaeology at the University of quite a surprise when six years Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. Among their plans after my departure in the Pennsylvania, where he works are publications of scholarly and following year, I received a call under the auspices of Professors popular books devoted to the from the new immigrant Donald White and Holly Pittman. ancient cultures of the area, field Aleksandr Leskov. A few months Presently, he is preparing the full projects and, of course, the later, Leskov came with lectures publication of the famous Maikop training of graduate students to Bloomington, and, sitting in my treasure, the largest collection of who would in the future deal with dining room, told me the sad the ancient artefacts from the this field of study in the USA. Part story of everything coming to a Eastern European steppes of the plan is to exchange halt in Russia, about the same housed outside the museum graduate students between party functionaries controlling the collections of Russia and Ukraine, Ukrainian research institutions ball, albeit with much less which happens to be divided and The University of Penn- regulation by the state, about among the collections of the sylvania. the growing corruption, about the University of Pennsylvania absence of funds and lack of Museum of Archaeology and As is always the case with opportunities for field research. Anthropology, the State Leskov, he has many other irons Surprising as his decision might Museums of Berlin and the in the fire... One which began seem, it was very clear why even Metropolitan Museum of Art. In last year was to join an Israeli such an optimist and practical fact, he made here another most project “The Seventh Century,” magician as Leskov would leave important discovery: according to being developed by the Olbright the country. him the Maikop hoard is by no Archaeological Research In- means a treasure, but a private stitute. Following this, he spent As an immigrant myself I have collection of the French three months studying archae- seen many excellent scholars adventurer M. A. Merle de ological collections in Israel and from the former Soviet Union Massoneau, which was sold in Jordan. He hopes to find material come to the United States and, the early 20th century to different evidence testifying to the after struggling for some time, institutions and private indi- presence of nomads from the drop their ambitions and viduals. In other words, what Eurasian steppes, whom the abandon their research. This is scholarly literature during the Bible and other early Middle especially common among the last century treated as one Eastern annals mention as people of the older generation complex of finds (although not passing through this area in their who have but very little chance free from admixes), turns out to offensive against Egypt in the to proceed with their pro- be a random selection of objects seventh century. fessional careers. Yet Leskov is from various regions (Ukraine, the only one whom I personally Crimea and Northwestern Let us wish him good luck in know, who came to the USA near Caucasus) belonging to these and all his future retirement age (he was 64!) and completely different epochs from endeavors! instead of accepting the quiet life the early Bronze Age to the of a retiree kept fighting for the Medieval period!

15 Books by Aleksandr Leskov Kubani: katalog vystavki (Art (edited with N. Ia. Merpert). Treasures of Ancient Kuban: Pamiatniki epokhi bronzy iuga Catalog of Exhibition). Moskva: Evropeiskoi chasti SSSR Ministerstvo kul’tury SSSR, 1985. (Monuments of the Bronze Age from the Southern European Part (editor). Ul’skie Kurgany (The Ul (edited with K. A. Dneprovskii). of the USSR). Kiev: Naukova Barrows). Berlin; Moskva, in Sokrovischa kurganov Adygei: Dumka, 1967. press. katalog vystavki (Treasures of Adygean barrows: catalogue of Gornyi Krym v pervom tysiacheletii (with V. R. Erlikh). Mogil’nik Fars/ the exhibit). Moskva: Sovetskii do nashei ery (Mountainous Klady: pamiatnik perekhoda ot khudozhnik, 1985. Crimea in the 1st Millennium epokhi pozdnei bronzy k rannemu BCE). Kiev: Naukova Dumka, zheleznomu veku na Severo- Kurgany, nakhodki, problemy 1965. Zapadnom Kavkaze (The Fars/ (Barrows, Finds, Problems). - - - Klady Cemetery). Moskva: Leningrad: Nauka, 1981 Gosudarstvennyi muzei Vostoka, *This tribute was originally (with Ia. I. Shurygin). Muzei istorii 1999. written to celebrate Professor religii i ateizma: Putevoditel’ Leskov’s 70th birthday in 2003. (Museum of the History of (edited with H. Müller-Beck). Religion and Atheism: A Guide). Arktische Waljäger vor 3000 Leningrad: Lenizdat, 1981. Jahren: unbekannte sibirische About the Author Kunst. Mainz: v.Hase und Koehler, 1993. Jung und spätbronzezeitliche Born in Tashkent, Aleksandr Depotfunde im nördlichen Naymark received his education (edited with B. Ia. Staviskii). Schwarzmeergebiet (Depots mit in archaeology and history at Kul’turnye sviazi narodov Srednei einheimischen Formen). Mün- Tashkent and Moscow Universi- Asii i Kavkaza: drevnost’ i chen: C.H. Beck, 1981 ties. After moving to the United srednevekov’e (Cultural Con- States in 1992, he received a nections of the Peoples of Central (with V. S. Bochkarev). Jung und Ph.D. in Central Eurasian Studies Asia and the Caucasus in spätbronzezeitliche Gussformen im from Indiana University, his dis- Antiquity and the Middle Ages). nördlichen Schwarzmeergebeit. sertation being on “Sogdiana, Its Moskva: Nauka, 1990. München: C.H. Beck, 1980 Christians and Byzantium: A Study of Artistic and Cultural Con- (edited with L. Noskova). I Tesori Skarbi kurhaniv Khersonshchyny nections in Late Antiquity and the dei Kurgani del Caucaso set- (Barrows Treasures from the Early Middle Ages.” He has par- tentrionale: nuove scoperte degli Kherson Lands). Kiev: Mys- ticipated in more than 30 exca- archeologi sovietici nell’Adygeja e tetstvo, 1974. vations in Central Asia and for a nell’Ossezia settentrionale. Roma: time worked in the Moscow Mu- De Luca, 1990 (also in German Die Skythischen Kurgane: die seum of Oriental Art as its cura- as: Grabschätze vom Kaukasus: Erforschung der Hügelgräber tor of Central Asian pre-Islamic art neue Ausgrabungen sowjetischer Südrusslands. Zürich: Raggi 1974 and coins. Between 1997 and Archäologen in der Adygee und im (Sondernummer of Antike Welt: 1999 he was a fellow of the Ger- nördlichen Ossetien). Zeitschrift für Archäologie und man Archaeological Institute in Urgeschichte, Jg. 5). Berlin. Dr. Naymark is currently an Grabschätze der Adygeen: neue Assistant Professor in Art History Entdeckungen im Nordkaukasus. Novye sokrovishcha kurganov at Hofstra University. He has pub- München: Hirmer. 1990. Ukrainy/Treasures from the lished widely on early islamic art, Ukrainian Barrows: Latest numismatics and archaeology in (edited with V. L. Lapushnian). Discoveries. Leningrad: Avrora, Central Asia. His article on the Gold und Kunsthandwerk vom 1972. Sogdian palace complex of antiken Kuban: neue archä- Varakhsha appeared in The Silk ologische Entdeckungen aus der Drevnosti Vostochnogo Kryma: Road, Vol. 1, No. 2 (2003). He may Sowjetunion. Stuttgart: K. Theiss, Predskifskii period i skify be contacted at Aleksandr. 1989. (Antiquities of Eastern Crimea: [email protected]. The Pre-Scythian Period and the (edited with V. L. Lapushnian). Scythians). Kiev, Naukova Shedevry drevnego iskusstva Dumka, 1970.

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