Archaeological research in Buryatia (second half of the 19th century early 20th century): a historiographical narrative

The article examines the domestic historiography of archaeological research in Buryatia, covering the period from the second half of the 19th century to the early 20th century. It should be noted upfront that the investigations of the Troitskosavsk-Kyakhta branch of the Russian Geographical Society are not discussed in this article, as their work merits a separate study. The study analyzes various concepts of scholars who studied the archaeological cultures geographically located within the modern boundaries of the Republic of Buryatia. It is evident that some theories have not withstood the test of time, which in no way diminishes the contributions of our predecessors, who were limited by the scientific and methodological progress of their era. However, their scientific enthusiasm paved the way for the subsequent comprehensive study of Buryatia’s archaeological heritage. With this work, the author pays tribute to the pioneers of archaeological exploration in Buryatia.