Domestic museum's archaeological catalogs of the second half of the XXth century and their potential for the research and educational activity

Catalogs of archaeological collections play an important role in systematization and popularization of archaeological heritage. They demand constant perfection. The article presents a bibliographic review and an analysis of archaeological catalogs, which were published by the museums of USSR during the second half of the XXth century. The analysis of the Soviet period experience on generating the archaeological catalogs shows a certain development of the latter. At the moment it is worth paying attention to by the archeologists and museum staff. The catalogs can be grouped in a special-purpose designation: the catalogs characterizing the archaeological fund of a museum on the whole, thematic catalogs and catalogs of archaeological exhibitions. During this period both central and peripheral museums were engaged into catalogs publishing. The State Hermitage, the State Museum of Tatar ASSR, the Museum of the Don Cossacks's History in Novocherkassk and the museums of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic were quite experienced in creation and edition of the catalogs. The catalogs were addressed, as a rule, to museum workers, archeologists-professionals, collectors. The target audience of catalogs of archaeological exhibitions was general public (schoolchildren, students, teachers, regional specialists, etc.). The function of these catalogs is to popularize the archaeological collections which they presented. The major part of catalogs consists of three basic parts: a preface, a catalog itself and explanatory notes with an appendix of illustrations. The catalog is a source study edition. Therefore it should contain absolutely authentic and accurate data on each subject presented there. The information potential of archaeological catalogs gives the chance of their usage now. The major catalogs make archaeological funds accessible to a researcher, they may be used in expositions, exhibitions and in other kinds of the scientific work. The role of catalogs in preserving and popularization of archeological heritage for general public is considerable.