“I Entered Archaeology by Touch”: Letters of I. V. Fabritius to A. M. Tallgren

This paper is devoted to the publication and analysis of the letters written by I. V. Fabritius to A. M. Tallgren in the period from November 1926 till June 1932, most frequently in 1928. Some key topics of their correspondence: the Bronze Age collection of the Kherson Museum, V. I. Goshkevich’s scientific heritage, book exchange, I. V. Fabritius’s publications in the journal “Eurasia Septentrionalis Antiqua”, excavations and exploration of archaeological sites in the lower reaches of the Dnieper, some hints on personal matters, household details, etc. Their letters reflect Fabritius’s experiences and psychology in different periods of her life. In the last and tragic letter from Leningrad, she says goodbye to her past life in archaeology and to Tallgren. The letters are supplied with comments and notes. Their text is reproduced from the originals stored in the Manuscript Department of the National Library of Finland.