V. A. MOSHKOV: THE BIRTH OF GAGAUZ STUDIES IN RUSSIA
V. A. MOSHKOV: THE BIRTH OF GAGAUZ STUDIES IN RUSSIA

Summary/Abstract: The Russian ethnographer V. A. Moshkov was a general in rank and a member of the Russian Geographical Society and seriously studied the traditions and life of the peoples inhabiting the Russian Empire. At the end of the 19th century, he began to research the Gagauz people. The research “The Gagauz of Bendery Uyezd”, published in the journal “Ethnographic Review” at the beginning of the 20th century was published as a result of V. A. Moshkov’s travels. Thanks to V. A. Moshkov, the general public learned about the small Orthodox people living on the area of a small region in the south of Bessarabia – the Gagauz. This article examines the multifaceted activities of the researcher aimed at highlighting various aspects of traditional culture – material culture, as well as customs, rituals, beliefs and folklore. It is noted that V. A. Moshkov tried to study the problem of human origin. It is curious that he was prompted to consider this issue because of his acquaintance with the material and spiritual culture of the Gagauz people, in which the scientist found parallels with other peoples not related to the Gagauz people by a common origin. The authors emphasize the role of the Gagauz scholars who have devoted their attention to studying the scientific heritage of V. A. Moshkov in the preservation and development of the identity of the Gagauz ethnos.

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