The Moscow unit of the academy for history of material culture

The Moscow Unit of the Academy for History of Material Culture was activein Moscow in the period from 1920 to 1929. The best Moscow archaeologists, ethnologists,historians, art historians, museologists working in various Moscow institutions were membersof the Moscow Unit. It was the first branch of the Academy in Moscow. Its activities canbe examined only on the basis of archival documents. Because of its membership, it canbe recognized as a large scientific and research center. The Unit conducted a huge amountof research in various areas of archaeology and related knowledge areas. Working in aclose contact with the Department on Museums and Protection of Art and Antiquities in thePeople's Commissariat for Education, the Moscow Unit tried to survive in difficult conditionsof the period and was supported by the Department rather than its parent institution, i. e. theAcademy. In the conditions of unrelenting pressure of the government it did not fit in thenew institutional framework and was replaced by the Moscow Unit of the State Academyfor History of Material Culture, i. e. the second branch that was fully accountable to theAcademy. It lost its independence but received permanent financing.