A.N. BERNSTEIN - Researcher of Ancient Cultures of Central Asia. Part - 3

The Brilliant Insights of the Talented Scholar - Alexander Natanovich Bernstein

In his work "Historical and Archaeological Essays on Tian Shan and Pamir-Alai," A.N. Bernstein summarizes the results of all his studies, providing the history of each region - Tian Shan, Alai, Fergana, and Pamir from ancient times to the Middle Ages. By demonstrating the commonality of culture among these areas as cultures of pastoral tribes (except for Fergana), he highlights its local features and compares archaeological data with information from written sources, allowing him to propose a map of the settlement of groups of Saka and other tribes, tracing the continuity of cultural development from the Saka to the Usuns in the regions of Semirechye and Tian Shan, and to the Kangju in the areas of the middle Syr Darya.

In this work, he also summarizes his research on Fergana - the only ancient agricultural center within the ring of pastoral tribes. At that time, Fergana's monuments had been studied only superficially; however, A.N. Bernstein outlines the main lines of development of Fergana's culture, proposes its periodization, and subsequent works by archaeologists, building upon and deepening what Alexander Natanovich had established, mostly confirm his findings. He always emphasized the close connection between Fergana and the nomadic tribes, explaining the uniqueness of its culture through these constant contacts.

The interconnection of the cultures of agriculturalists and nomads, and the resulting syncretism in art, is another theme that constantly attracted A.N. Bernstein's attention, finding its most complete reflection in his final work.

It is particularly important to note his position on the interaction of ancient cultures of Central Asia and Eastern Turkestan, which was the subject of the article "Problems of the History of Eastern Turkestan" (1947). Emphasizing the connection between the populations of both territories, A.N. Bernstein wrote: "... the main problems of the historical and cultural study of Eastern Turkestan are part of the historical and cultural problems of Central Asia." Furthermore: "Alongside the influence of China, India, Tibet, and the Mongolian steppes in the areas of political history, culture, and ethnogenesis, the influences coming from Central Asia were, firstly, among the oldest, secondly, constantly active, and thirdly, the most progressive. This statement, made over 40 years ago, remains largely relevant today.

It is impossible to cover all the scientific issues that A.N. Bernstein dealt with. These include studies of the rock carvings of Saymaly-Tash (Fergana Ridge), the influence of Sasanian Iran and Byzantium on the culture of Central Asian peoples, the emergence and spread of Buddhism, work in the field of epigraphy, research on the history of the Uyghurs, essays on the history of ancient Kyrgyz architecture; he actively participated in the re-publication of works by V.V. Bartold ("Essays on the History of Semirechye" and "Kyrgyz, 1943") and N.Ya. Bichurin ("Collection of Information about the Peoples Inhabiting Central Asia in Ancient Times, 1950), etc.

For many years, A.N. Bernstein taught special courses "History of Turkic Tribes and Peoples" and "Archaeology of Central Asia" at the Department of Archaeology of Leningrad State University. Skillfully combining information from various sources, both written and archaeological, A.N. Bernstein unfolded before his students a broad canvas of the complex, tangled history of the Turkic peoples, sharing his insights on this intricate issue, encouraging students to be active participants in discussions on various aspects of ancient history that took place within the walls of scientific institutions at that time.

The breadth of A.N. Bernstein's scientific interests is also evidenced by the fact that among his students are not only archaeologists but also Turkologists and ethnographers. He paid great attention to training specialists for the Central Asian republics.

It is especially important to emphasize that A.N. Bernstein never "monopolized" the materials of expeditions, involving his students in their publication and research. His expeditions were characterized by a friendly informality; an atmosphere of extraordinary enthusiasm, a desire to overcome all difficulties (and there were many in the 1940s and 50s).

A.N. Bernstein died in 1956 at the age of 46, having experienced unjust treatment as a scholar in the early 50s. He was accused of "pan-Turkism," and for his theories on the objectively progressive role of the Huns, he was labeled an "apologist for predatory wars." For his call, after the defeat of N.Ya. Marr and his school by I.V. Stalin (to which A.N. Bernstein belonged), to preserve what was useful in N.Ya. Marr's teachings, he was declared a "subterranean Marxist."

A.N. Bernstein was removed from teaching at the Department of Archaeology of Leningrad State University, deprived of the right to have students, and to lead expeditions. There was even a question of expelling him from the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the USSR Academy of Sciences (now the Institute of Archaeology). But Stalin's death put an end to yet another "witch hunt." A.N. Bernstein could return to scientific life, but he had little time left to live. In 1956, already seriously ill, he led his last expedition to Pamir, continuing research on Saka burial mounds. That year, V.A. Ranov discovered the "Stone Age of Pamir" as part of this expedition. And just shortly before his death, A.N. Bernstein participated in a conference on the problems of the origin of the Kyrgyz people.

A.N. Bernstein's scientific life lasted just over 25 years, during which he wrote more than 150 works.

As already mentioned, one of the most important topics developed by A.N. Bernstein was the study of the interaction between the cultures of the agricultural and nomadic worlds. This theme was also echoed in the work published after the author's death ("Controversial Issues in the History of the Nomadic Peoples of Central Asia," 1957): "It is impossible to study the history of nomads without considering the history of the settled agricultural population of the oases (and vice versa). Therefore, the ancestors of the Kyrgyz should be viewed in connection with Fergana, the Kazakhs with the agricultural oases of Syr Darya and Khorezm, and the Turkmen (Dai and Parni) in connection with Parthia, and the ancestors of the Uzbeks with Sogdiana." Throughout his life, he urged archaeologists working in agricultural oasis areas to seek out and study the monuments of nomads. And now, as burial mounds of pastoralists are being discovered one after another across Central Asia at the borders of all agricultural centers, this serves as the best confirmation of the brilliant foresight of the talented scholar - Alexander Natanovich Bernstein.

A.N. BERNSTEIN - researcher of ancient cultures of Central Asia. Part - 2