ABSTRACT

The first scientific anthropological institutions and societies were established in Russia at the end of the 1850s. The development of physical anthropology in the country as a new branch of Science shows a long period of development, starting with a growing interest in association with the beginning of collection of osteological and ethnological samples. The anthropological research in the country proceeded in two basic directions: the research

on physical variation in the populations of the large Russian territories; and the development of theoretical concepts about the origin of modern humans. This latter subject occupied an important place in the studies of Russian philosophers and naturalists. More specific questions relating to physical anthropology mainly remained in the field of interests of physicians and anatomists. In the history of the development of Russian physical anthropology a special place is

occupied by the report of Moscow University professor I.F. Vensovich, delivered on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the University in 1805. Vensovich strictly differentiated between anthropology (in a wider meaning of this term) and physical anthropology. In his opinion, physical anthropology embraced studies about humans, including body composition, physical activity, and morphological and physical changes during illness. He underlined that physical anthropology was not a part of medicine because it had other purposes (Levin 1960). Another university professor, A.L. Lovetsky, contributed considerably to the popularization

of physical anthropology at Moscow University. He was the author of the university textbook The Physiology or Anthropo-Biology, published in 1835. Lovetsky was also an author of the first anthropological manual in Russia, published by Moscow University in 1838 under the title Guidebook to Knowledge of Tribes of Mankind … (Chtetcov 2004). Later in 1864 the Society of Enthusiasts of Natural Sciences was founded at Moscow

University. It came about due to the initiative of the extraordinary professor of Moscow University and Director of the Zoological Museum, A.P. Bogdanov. Anthropological topics were the most important in the activity of the new Society. Already on 4 November 1864 the Anthropological Department was divided and therefore re-structured. Anthropological,

ethnographic and archaeological studies embraced the interests of the Department, which reflected the founders’ viewpoint on anthropology as a complex science about the physical characteristics of Man and his culture. One of the main purposes of the Society was to collect anthropological, archaeological and ethnological samples (Buzhilova 2009). With great enthusiasm the members organized and participated in archaeological and ethnological expeditions in different areas of Eurasia.