V international scientific conference “Peoples and cultures of Sayano-Altai and adjacent territories” dedicated to the 85th anniversary of doctor of historical sciences, orientalist, archaeologist Vitalyi E. Larichev

Purpose. During the period of 26th - 28th September 2018, the capital of the Republic of Khakassia, the city of Abakan, and the Ordzhonikidzevskii district of Khakassia hosted the V International Scientific Conference “Peoples and Cultures of Sayano-Altai and adjacent territories” dedicated to the 85th anniversary of Doctor of Historical Sciences, orientalist, archaeologist Vitalyi Epifanovich Larichev. The Abakan location was chosen as it was on the territory of Khakassia that V. E. Larichev conducted his main field research in the fields of Palaeolithic and Astroarchaeology. In this regard, it is important to show the results of the work of this significant scientific forum. Results. The conference was attended by scientists and instructors on archaeology from Japan, India, the Principality of Monaco, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Tuva, Altai, Khakassia, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk and Kemerovo Regions. By the beginning of the conference, its Organizing Committee prepared the forum materials in the form of a book. The keynote speech at the plenary meeting of the conference was given by the Doctor of Historical Sciences, Director of the Khakass Research Institute of Language, Literature and History, V. N. Tuguzhekova. The speaker stressed that it was V. E. Larichev who, using Khakass materials, laid prerequisites for modern methods of studying the ancient calendar systems of Siberia. The sectional sessions of the conference covered the results of scientific research conducted by V. E. Larichev both on the territory of Khakassia and in East Asia. The working day ended with a performance by a wonderful artistic folk team from the city of Abakan. On the second day of the conference, a practical field seminar was held on one of the research sites that V. E. Larichev considered particularly important, Pervyi Sunduk, on the territory of the Ordzhonikidzevsky district of Khakassia. It is widely recognized that this unique natural-historical site is the only one of its kind on the territory of Khakassia. However, it is necessary to continue its complex interdisciplinary studies. The site needs effective protection as in recent years the anthropogenic load on this location has increased greatly. Conclusion. In general, the scientific forum was an important stage both in the study of the rich scientific heritage of V. E. Larichev and in the solution of a number of topical issues of archaeology, ethnography and history of the peoples of Southern Siberia and adjacent territories of Central and East Asia.