According to the organisational principle of the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus, its collection does not include a separate archaeology section. Objects found during archaeological excavations, less than 200 artefacts, are today part of the museum’s collection of Belarusian decorative and applied arts. More than a half of them will be displayed at the exhibition.
The most ancient and valuable archaeological objects in the museum’s collection were discovered in the 1950s, following excavations in Minsk led by Eduard Zagarulsky and Vasil Tarasenka (13th century carved stone icons) and Vaukavysk led by Vasil Tarasenka and Yaraslau Zviaruga (13th century carved stone slab with zoomorphic imagery and bone chess pieces).
This exhibition is an attempt to make a report of the museum’s work concerning the study of artefacts of ancient Belarusian art and culture, as well as their preservation. It is also an opportunity to attract the attention of the archaeological community and to intensify cooperation with scientific institutions conducting excavations as part of their activities.
The exhibition will be on display until 6 April.
Exhibition curator: Dzmitry Monich, leading researcher at the Department of Ancient Belarusian Art of the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus.
