Valentin Yanin is one of the most renowned and recognized Russian academics. A specialist in the history of medieval Novgorod, Russian numismatics and sphragistics, he considered an undisputed authority throughout the world. Yanin recently received the Alexander Solzhenitsyn literary award for “his archeological and historical discoveries, which have transformed our understanding of early history and Ancient Rus.” This is the first time that this award has gone to a historian. The official award ceremony will take place on April 21.
– You have received the Solzhenitsyn Award “for archeological and historical discoveries, which have transformed our understanding of early history and Ancient Rus.” Has our understanding of that period of Russian history really changed that much over the past 5-7 years?
– Yes, it has changed, and quite substantially. This began with the discovery in Novgorod of a large number of birchbark manuscripts, which made it possible to peer into the lives of those who lived many ages ago. Earlier archeologists studied objects from the past, but this time we encountered real people – we learned their names, where they lived, who their neighbors were. We encountered an entirely different history.
– It seems that everyone, including historians, has their own perception of people in past ages. What surprises you the most when you read these manuscripts?
– My colleagues and I are constantly amazed by one thing. After becoming acquainted with the manuscripts, we got the impression that the people that wrote them differ very little from us: they lived with the same concerns, they had the same thoughts, they helped each other out, and so on. In one manuscript from the late XI century a young girl writes to her beloved: “Why didn’t you come to see me this week? I am probably no longer desirable for you. If I were desirable for you, you would have somehow secretly come to see me...” Texts like these bring us closer to the people of those times.
– What historical questions are most topical right now? In the 1990s the ideas of such pseudo-historians such as Anatoly Fomenko had a great deal of influence. Presently this problem appears to have subsided. Is this really the case?
– Unfortunately, we still encounter such absurdities such as Fomenko’s theories. But we also face other kinds of difficulties as well. For example, every year I have to deal with the problem of where and how to excavate. Novgorod is already well developed, and every time a new building is planned for construction we get involved, because we need to carry out an archeological excavation there first. And this issue comes up constantly. We have an enormous area to study. Only about 20% of the territory of ancient Novgorod has undergone archeological excavation, so I am certain that interesting finds will be discovered.
– You are the recipient of Soviet state awards and orders, in 1996 you received the Russian Federation State Prize and the Triumph Award in 2002. What do you think about the Solzhenitsyn Award?
– This award was initially only given to authors and philologists, and then these parameters were expanded. They began giving the award to a broader range of professionals, including myself. I never imagined that I would receive this award, and it was very pleasant to get.
