State Museum of Military History and Nature Reserve “Kulikovo Polye” is carrying on a big and diverse scientific work. Kulikovo field is the main research object of the museum. It represents a unique historical and natural territory of a source of the Don River which is connected with the distinguished event of the Russian history – the victory of the united Russian regiments headed by Dmitry Donskoy over the Golden Horde on the 8th of September, 1380.

The distinguished feature of the Kulikovo field from other Russian battlefields is the significance of the natural landscape as the main and unique military historical and memorial monument of the battle. In this respect the museum is carrying on scientific works on the reconstruction of the forest and steppe areas of the battlefield of the XIV century. These works include a complex of scientific-research practiced and technical actions: the combination of manual and mechanized methods of planting of the large-leaved oak groves and feather grass steppes. The reconstruction of the forest-steppe area and species composition, which includes more then 300 species of grass, shrub and tree vegetations, is a complex and responsible scientific program. According to Russian and foreign specialists these works are unique not only in Russian but also in the world scientific practice. The museum researches flora and fauna on the territory of the Kulikovo field. 11 natural monuments with relic vegetation are being examined now.

Kulikovo field as a historical phenomenon is a complex of historical, archeological and architectural monuments of a significant chronological and territorial spectrum. More than 350 archeological monuments have been found on the territory of the Kulikovo field. The point of particular attention is the examination of the ancient Russian monuments which chronologically close to the Kulikovo battle. We investigate processes of population of this territory in XII-XIV centuries, single group settlements, sites, burial grounds, handicraft industry, cultural and trade links. According to the complexity of investigation works carried on and their immensity Kulikovo field is one of the most explored ancient territory. Museum archeological expeditions work also on the cross-border regions to the Kulikovo field and lead guard excavations in Tula city and the region.

Special attention in the scientific work of the museum is paid to the study of the Kulikovo battle problems. The researchers examine parts of ancient roads by which Russian regiments moved to the site of the battle. They defined the encampment of Russian warriors and sites where Russian warriors crossed the Don River for the battle. For the last 10 years more then 30 items of the battle were found. With the help of radio-frequency method of investigation researches could define the grave site of Russian warriors who died in the battle. This was the most important part in the investigation of the Kulikovo field.

Architectural monuments of All-Russian significance and value are the objects of researches and scientific restoration. Among them are: the column-monument in memory of Dmitry Donskoy which is one of the first military monuments in Russia, Sergey Radonezhsky’s Cathedral on the Krasny Hill which is one of the best model of new Russian style, the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Cathedral in Monastirshchino village. The researches investigate twelve architectural monuments of church architecture of the end of the XVIII c. and the beginning of the XX c., elements of park building groups and structure of noble homestead.

If you have any questions about museum science please contact Andrey N. Naumov: naumov@kulpole.tula.net.

If you are interested in archeology please contact Aleksey M. Vorontsov: arh@kulpole.tula.net.

Regarding nature please contact Olga V. Burova: burova@kulpole.tula.net.

On military history please contact Jury A. Morozov: morozov@kulpole.tula.net.