The International Charitable Foundation “Oleksandr Feldman Foundation” rendered financial assistance for the organization of four archeological expeditions under the V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University and M.F. Sumtsov Kharkiv Historical Museum. The means were allocated for the purchase of gear, equipment and food, as well as for the solution of organizational and technical and transport issues. Without this support, the 2016 season would be doubtful, and the whole research work on preservation of historical heritage and study of the past of Ukraine would be complicated, Kharkiv historical scientists confess.
“Under the conditions of constant reduction of state financing and its current almost complete absence, there is nothing to do but to reckon on own efforts and on help of patrons,” the head of archeological department under M.F. Sumtsov Kharkiv Historical Museum, Viktor Aksenov told. “Fortunately, Oleksandr Feldman’s Charitable Foundation – our old friend – does not forget about us and is ready to help us in difficult times. It is very important, because the matter is in maintenance of world-famous Kharkiv archeological school, known among other things for the study of the Saltovo-Mayaki culture.”
The specialists state that the research of the monuments to Saltovo-Mayaki culture throws light on the early period of the history of Ukraine, and makes it possible to give answers to questions connected with the formation of Ukrainian ethnos and statehood appearing.
“Verkhnii Saltiv archeological complex is known by all specialists in this field. There are not so many similar monuments in Ukraine, they can be counted on the fingers of one hand,” Valerii Skyrda, the head of Medieval expedition, the associate professor of the historical department under V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University emphasizes. “It is our history, our tradition and symbol that makes us recognizable by archaeologists worldwide. That is why, the financing of further excavations of the monuments to the Saltovo-Mayaki culture is a question of our state’s prestige at the international scientific arena. It is good that there are people in Ukraine who understand this, as well as public organizations.”
It should be noted that the cooperation between the ICF “Oleksandr Feldman Foundation” and archaeologists continues since 2008. It was the year of the start of joint project intended to promote the study and preservation of historical and cultural heritage on the territory of Kharkiv oblast. Within its frameworks, the Foundation allocated means on repair and improvement of the new office of Kharkiv Regional Historical and Archaeological Community, and rendered assistance to six archeological expeditions. According to the words of archaeologists, that assistance helped to significantly update the outdated material and technical base of expeditions, to increase the terms of their implementation and the number of participants, to expand the scales of excavations, which undoubtedly favoured the improvement of the quality of researches, the acquisition of bigger volume of scientific information.
