ON THE HISTORY OF STUDYING S.P. KRASHENINNIKOV’S MATERIALS: PROBLEMS, DISCUSSIONS, NEW INFORMATION AND INTERPRETATIONS
I.A. Shipilov
Institute of History SB RAS, 8, A. Nikolayev str., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation
Keywords: S. P. Krasheninnikov, Second Kamchatka Expedition, G.F. Müller, Siberia exploration history, «Description of Kamchatka Land», «On Sable Hunting», travel notes and diaries
Abstract
The article is devoted to comparative study of geographic, ethnographic, natural science, science research and other papers and materials, including those not introduced to scientific circulation, by S. P. Krasheninnikov, an outstanding Russian scientist, participant of the Second Kamchatka Expedition, as well as relevant research literature. As a result, it has filled main gaps in historiography, corrected inaccuracies, and proposed reasoned solutions for debated topical issues. Based on comprehensive analysis of «Description of Kamchatka Land», Krasheninnikov’s travel notes, diaries and reports the author adds new information about travels and research conducted by this member of the Second Kamchatka Expedition, corrects misconceptions on routes of his travels in Siberia and Far East, clarifies his scientific biography and indicates his priority in investigations and description of some geographic objects. Concerning the history of studying ethnography materials by Krasheninnikov, the issue of his role in ethnology development is less highlighted, but it is significant as shown in this paper. Besides, the article points the prospects to research ethnolinguistic data by S.P. Krasheninnikov and his expedition colleagues (adjunct G.W. Steller and student A.P. Gorlanov), as well as scientific potential of work «On sable hunting» as a source for historical, biological and ecological research. The major research finding is a reasoned conclusion that Professor G.F. Müller and student Krasheninnikov had good professional and personal relationships during the Second Kamchatka Expedition. Due to the active participation of Professor of history in his student’s scientific and educational development the latter became a universal scientist, including science theorist, who described and explained the benefit of applying a historical and interdisciplinary approaches in science in the mid-XVIII century. Many Krasheninnikov’s papers remain scientifically relevant in the XXI century despite the illusion that they have been well studied.
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