Formation of Kazan archaeological school and its role in the development of the system of historical and cultural heritage preservation of Russia and Tatarstan

The article examines historical background for the formation of Kazan archaeological school, and its role in the system of cultural heritage preservation in Tatarstan and the RF. These include the processes that took place in the 18-19th cc., the IV Archaeological Congress (1877), the creation of the Society of Archaeology, History and Ethnography at Kazan University (1878), the emergence of state and public forms of cultural heritage preservation. The formation of Kazan archaeological school occurred in the 1950s. It played an important role in the development of historical and cultural monuments' protection, led to an increase in the volume of research and restoration work, publication of a huge number of books, including the "Collection of Historical and Cultural Monuments of the Republic of Tatarstan", adoption of legislative and regulatory acts, implementation of comprehensive state programs, inclusion of three Tatarstan sites into the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List, participation in other all-Russian and international projects.