To the 130th anniversary of archaeologist Peter Smolichev

12 January 2021 year marks 130 years since the birth of the famous scientist Peter Ivanovich Smolichev. He was born in the family of a priest in the village. Princes of Hlukhiv district of Chernihiv province (now - Yampil district of Sumy region). Continuing the family tradition, he entered the Chernihiv Theological Seminary. Together with teachers and students of the seminary he participated in the organization and work of the XIV Archaeological Congress, which took place in Chernihiv in August 1908 Dr.. This determined his future fate.

After graduating from the seminary he continued his studies at the Theological Academy and the Archaeological Institute in St. Petersburg. He later returned to Chernihiv and worked as a teacher at the Chernihiv Teachers' Training Institute.

Навесні 1923 Dr.. Peter Ivanovich took the position of head of the 2nd Soviet Museum (former museum of the Chernihiv Provincial Scientific Archival Commission). When in the fall of the same year, the Chernihiv State Museum was created by merging five museums, headed its archaeological department. Smolichev participated in the reorganization of the institution, worked out the concept of the first exposition, was engaged in arranging and cataloging funds, excursion work.

The scientist also conducted active research. 1923 entered the Temporary Archaeological Commission under the Chernihiv Provincial Executive Committee, under the guidance of Professor MO. Makarenko participated in the architectural and archaeological research of the Savior Cathedral; in 1924 та 1926 years together with the representative of VUAN professor IV. Morgilevsky - in the survey of the Assumption Cathedral of the Yelets Monastery. In 1924–1925, the staff of the Chernihiv State Museum P.I.. Smolichev, V.G. Drozdov, MG. Weinstein conducted research on mummified burials of the XVII-XIX centuries. in the Church of the Resurrection in Sedniv.

Peter Smolichev's scientific activity was recognized: with 1925 he is a full member of VUAK, later - an employee of the commission of the Left Bank of Ukraine at the historical section of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences.

Highly educated man, Peter Ivanovich knew Latin well, fluent in French - manuscripts of articles on archeology in this language are stored in the scientific archives of the Institute of Archeology of the NAS of Ukraine. He was also a skilled graphic artist and personally made drawings and sketches for scientific reports on archaeological excavations..

During 1925–1927, an expedition of the Chernihiv State Museum led by Peter Smolichev conducted archaeological research on a complex of ancient Russian monuments. (wife's burials and mounds) near the village. Shestovytsia, Chernihiv district. Surveys and "trial" excavations of the settlement in the Korovel tract were carried out, researched 42 embankments in different mound groups. Archaeological finds: household items, armament, horse equipment, прикраси, in general almost 500 items, now stored in the Chernihiv Historical Museum named after VV. Tarnovsky. Smolichev devoted several articles to the antiquities of Shestovitsa. He also prepared a complete edition of the excavation materials, however, he did not have to complete this work. 1931 year Peter Ivanovich, due to unfavorable circumstances in the Chernihiv State Museum (repression against scientists began), will move to Zaporozhye. There he holds the position of head of the sector of successive change of cultures of the newly created State Museum of Dniprobud, takes an active part in the organization of its first exhibition.

1933 year as "unreliable" with "past" (study in theological institutions, presence among native priests, contacts with "nationalist" scientists) Petro Smolichev was administratively deported from Ukraine.

In the 1940s, the researcher worked at the Institute of History, archeology and ethnography of the Academy of Sciences of the Tajik SSR. He died in Dushanbe 1944 year.

Head. department I науково-експозиційного відділу музею Вікторія Мудрицька,

старший науковий співробітник відділу науково-фондової роботи музею Людмила Сита