Boris Piotrovsky

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Boris Borisovich Piotrovsky (Russian: Бори́с Бори́сович Пиотро́вский) (February 1 (14), 1908, St. Petersburg–October 15, 1990, Leningrad) was a Soviet/Russian academician, historian-orientalist and archaeologist who studied Urartu, Scythia, and Nubia.

Piotrovsky specialized in the history and archaeology of the Caucasus region. He is best-known as a key figure in the study of the Urartu civilization of the southern Caucasus. His 1938 excavations uncovered the Urartian fortress of Teishebaini. Evidence found there has been key in understanding the Urartu civilization.

This was not his only contribution, however. Piotrovsky worked elsewhere in the Caucasus, especially on the Scythian culture. He also spent 26 years as Director of the Hermitage Museum, which has been run by his son Mikhail thereafter. The Hermitage holds an annual conference in his honor.

[edit] External links

• The Art and Culture of the Peoples of the Caucasus: 1100 B.C.–19th century (From the Hermitage website. One of the sections explains the importance of Teishbaini.)
• Conference announcement for the conference in Piotrovsky's honor. Gives some biographical information.