Saienko V. Oleksiy Terenozhkin as the reseracher of ancient history of Ukraine

The subject of the dissertation is the study of intellectual biography of the prominent archeologist of ХХ century O. Terenozhkin (1907–1981). The source base is analyzed and the state of scientific research of this subject is evaluated. The main stages of life and scientific activities of O. Terenozhkin are covered in details. The factors which have impacted the development of his personality and historical interests are specified. The results of the work of O. Terenozhkin in the areas of archeology and local history studies in Transvolga region, in the years of his study and working in Moscow, of his participation and heading of archeological expeditions are traced and evinced. The achievements of the scientist during his work for the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Science of Ukraine are evidenced and summarized. The scientific-pedagogical activity of O. Terenozhkin is demonstrated. The evolution of his scientific views, ideas and beliefs is studied, in particular – in the search of archeological adequacies to the historical Cimmerians, in the creation of the conception of ethnic-cultural processes development in the forest-steppe region of Ukraine since the Pre-Scythian historical period up to the period of formation of the Early Slavs. The publications of O. Terenozhkin with the subject of archeological source studies are analyzed. The contribution of the scientist in the creation of general history of Scythia and the Scythians is researched and emphasized. Among the key scientific novelty ideas we could name: the archeological periodization of Sogdia civilization starting from Bronze Age to the beginning of conquest by the Mongol Empire and related extension of the age of Samarkand up to 2 500 years (owing to findings in Afrasiab); the conclusion regarding the inherent local origin and the ethnic-cultural succession of the population of the Right-bank forest-steppe region of Ukraine, starting from Trzciniec and Komarovska cultures of Bronze Age up to Zarubintsy culture including; this population he believed to be closely related with the Early Slavs (Proto-Slavs); the conviction that the Scythia had been the state formed by different ethnoses within steppe and forest-steppe areas and united under the governance of Iranian-language Scythians which migrated from Central Asia; the separation of Chornolis archeological culture (Black Forest Culture) and proving its connection with the earlier cultures of Bronze Age; the reasoning of strong association of Chernogorovka and Novocherkassk cultures in the steppe part of Eastern Europe with Cimmerians culture.