Meeting of the Olvians

16.3.2021

A meeting of the Olvians took place at the Institute of History, International Relations and Socio-Political Sciences. 

On March 11, 2021, having received the opportunity to personally see each other, the Olvians of the Educational and Research Institute of History, International Relations and Socio-Political Sciences decided not only to remember the brightest pages of their expeditions, share memories, but also to acquaint first-year students with this fantastic place. Students not only had fun and inspired time, but also summed up their trips from 2018, 2019 and 2020, discussed future expeditions.

The Director of the Institute Anton Bader made a speech. He noted that such meetings should become a good tradition at the History Department, because Olvia is an integral part of its culture.

Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University has many years of experience in the scientific study of the monuments of the ancient era of the Historical and Archaeological Reserve “Olvia”. For the first time, a student team joined the research of Olvia objects in 1969.

The first departure of students-historians for archaeological practice took place under the guidance of the teacher of the Faculty of History Kostiantyn Krasylnykov. Since then, the Luhansk detachment has always been the most numerous in Olvia, at the same time the unique Olvian traditions began to form. A significant cohort of history faculty teachers not only visited Olvia, but also became permanent and active participants. Visiting for 5, 8, 10 or more seasons was becoming commonplace for Olvian veterans.

Since 2018, the archaeological tradition has been resumed through the efforts of the Institute of History, International Relations and Socio-Political Sciences, the university administration and veterans of past years. Vasyl Nadraga, Doctor of Economics, a graduate of the History Faculty, and a permanent sponsor of the Luhansk expedition, made a great contribution to the Olvia business. Students remembered their first departure from Starobilsk in 2018, shared their memories of Yaroslav Moiseenko and Mykhailo Vlaikov.

“Having arrived on the fertile land of Olvia, our detachment of 16 people were frightened. At the same time, we met Mykyta Bolotskyi, who is the successor of the Olvia veteran family, and our constant leader and assistant over the next years. We tried to organize our leisure time and took only the first steps in the study of an interesting archaeological site T-4. The search for the Olvia theater then experienced a fourth attempt, and we were put on this, not yet worked out territory,” Yevgenia Shevtsova recalls her first year.

Despite some fear, our inexperience and uncertainty, Olvia-2018 fell in love with those who returned to Olvia in 2019, 2020. And students with the warmest feelings remember that first season, all the jokes and situations.

Olvia-2019. This season has become one of the brightest. The squad was replenished with students of past years and new interns. Traditional holidays were held more often, more massively and brighter. “We knew what awaited us, pulled the younger generation to ourselves, prepared scripts and images in advance. We continued to work on the T-4, and in the afternoon, with a more experienced team, we planned our evening leisure. This season was remembered for its striking archaeological finds, new acquaintances, hotter parties,” says Evgenia.

Yulia Shevtsova and Igor Verkhovod, third-year students, shared their memories of the 2019 season.

Last year, the 2020 season took place with its own characteristics. The introduction of quarantine contributed to the fact that those who most wanted to return to Olvia were unable to travel, due to their own fears, family circumstances and the like. In addition, the traditional practice of the 1st course could not take place as usual. The team of Olvians invited everyone they could, students of other specialties, their friends to go. I really wanted the trip to take place, so that the tradition would not be interrupted again. However, they got together. A team of volunteers of 18 people. And this season has been truly unforgettable. Each of those who decided to go in no way regretted, and when we drove back, everyone on the bus just cried.

“We not only carried out the preliminary familiar measures with dignity, but also added a few more traditional holidays to our collection. Again the whole village heard about the Luhansk detachment. We have become more confident, cheerful and active. Jokes, disco fun were distributed throughout the reserve, people from other units asked to come to our camp for a party, local residents began to recognize us by our face, and the concept of “Luhansk detachment” became a brand again”, – this is how Yevhenia tells about the 2020 season. Margarita Kononenko, Yulia Bondar and Daria Tulinova recalled the highlights of their first trip.

Students watched photographs of the excavation site, parties, traditional events, scientific meetings and got to know Olvian life. Funny videos and stories aroused delight and vivid emotions among the freshmen, almost everyone expressed a desire to join the expedition in 2021.

Yulia Nuzhna, Deputy Director for Academic Affairs of the Institute of History, International Relations and Socio-Political Sciences and a veteran of the Olvia movement, shared her impressions of the event and memories from Olvia. At the end, everyone sang traditional songs and talked. The event was filled with a unique atmosphere, as if everyone had gathered around a campfire in the evening.

Olvia is one family, these are deep soulful songs, crazy dances, it is always a special humor that nobody understands. Olvia is a unique experience, always active students, filled with inspiration, crazy ideas. This is the place where you bare your own soul, stop playing roles, forget about the Internet, your phone, your business and worries for several weeks, and just live, communicate openly, sincerely enjoy, fall in love and find real friends. That is why you want and want to come back here. Go to the excavation site at dawn, light a fire and sing songs in the evening …

Educational and Research Institute of History,
International Relations and Socio-Political Sciences