On October 18, Vitebsk / Sergey Kotovets - BELTA /. The results of historical research and the past archaeological season will be presented at the scientific and practical conference "Vitebsk Antiquities", which will be held in Vitebsk on October 20-21. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by Valery Shishanov, Deputy Director for Scientific Work at the Vitebsk Regional Museum of Local Lore. About 50 scientists, archaeologists, and museum workers from scientific, museum institutions, and higher education institutions of the region and other regions of Belarus will take part in the conference. Specialists from Russia and Latvia have shown interest in the work of the Vitebsk archaeological forum. During the event, specialists will be acquainted with the results of archaeological research and works dedicated to the issues of socio-political and cultural development of the Vitebsk region from ancient times to the beginning of the XX century, as well as the development of local history and the formation of museum collections. Thus, for the first time, unique items found by archaeologists on the territory of the ancient Zamkovy Stream in Vitebsk this year will be presented to the scientific community. During archaeological supervision, which has been carried out since 2010 during the construction of an administrative building in the channel of the Zamkovy Stream and its adjacent territory, specialists discovered a wooden structure at a depth of about 8 m from the surface. According to preliminary estimates, the structure was once a utility building. Inside the structure, the hilt of a saber and several saber blades were found, as well as a cross made of non-ferrous metal, which can be dated to the late 18th - early 19th century, and a button, according to preliminary estimates, from the uniform of a French army serviceman. Also this year, archaeologists have in their possession quite rarely found insignia and badges that were worn, in particular, by cavalrymen during the transitional period of the late Russian Empire and the early Soviet era. Rare finds include an Old Russian encolpion cross, as well as a twisted wire bracelet and ring, characteristic of the XII-XIII centuries. The main goal of the conference is to introduce the results of the research work of domestic archaeologists and historians into scientific circulation, and to discuss and exchange data on the latest discoveries. Based on the results of the scientific forum, a collection of materials is planned to be published. The Vitebsk Regional Museum of Local Lore is the organizer of the "Vitebsk Antiquities" conference. -0-

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