On October 20, Vitebsk / Sergey Kotov - BELTA /. Unique insignia and badges dating back to the late Russian Empire and the early years of Soviet power have been found by archaeologists during excavations in Vitebsk. This was announced to journalists by Olga Levko, Head of the Centre for the History of Pre-Industrial Society at the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor. In Vitebsk, she is participating in the scientific and practical conference "Vitebsk Antiquities", reports a BELTA correspondent. Among the findings is the first insignia developed and used by Soviet authorities, established for the Red Army. It is a five-pointed star covered with red enamel, inside which a plough (not a sickle) and hammer are placed on a white field. Initially, it was produced by artisans who also added a laurel wreath to the ornament. The badge could be freely purchased. In 1918, a decree was issued confirming the exclusive right to wear such a badge for Red Army soldiers, explained Olga Levko. Among the findings are two badges depicting a horse in a horseshoe. Such badges were used at the stud farms of the Russian Empire, and later they were adopted by the cavalry units of the Red Army. One of the discovered badges is related to agricultural educational institutions of the Russian Empire. It was this badge that served as the basis for the insignia of labour army soldiers in the early years of Soviet power, who operated in 1920-1921. In addition, during the excavations, a badge of the Kaluga Theological Seminary, established in 1776 for the opening of this educational institution, was discovered. This badge was attached to the caps of the seminarians or on their lapels. The uniqueness of the findings lies in the fact that they reflect a short period of history, as these insignia were mainly used for a short time. Archaeology is called upon to unearth not only crumbling antiquities but also all layers of history, believes Olga Levko. -0-

BELTA