Students from Omsk participated in archaeological excavations as part of their academic pursuits.
In Russia, student archaeological detachments have become an integral part of the country's educational and research landscape, particularly since the Soviet era. These detachments, often referred to as "otriady," offer students a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in archaeology while earning extra income during the summer months.
The origins of student archaeological detachments can be traced back to the organized youth movements of the Soviet Union, coordinated through universities and state archaeological institutions. Their primary goal was to combine practical fieldwork, education, and ideological training. Over the decades, this grew into a widespread phenomenon, with thousands of students participating annually.
One of the most recent additions to this movement is the first archaeological detachment, "Asgard," which was established at Omsk State Pedagogical University in 2022. In just three years, the number of participants has grown from 11 to 130.
In 2024, over 400,000 students and schoolchildren from 85 regions of Russia worked in Russian student detachments, a testament to their growing popularity and impact. Alexei Potekhin, chairman of the student detachment board in the Omsk region, expressed hope that this trend will continue to develop.
These detachments provide university students with direct field experience in archaeology, a crucial aspect of their professional training. They have also contributed significantly to uncovering and preserving important archaeological sites and artifacts across Russia. Historically, these groups have served social and ideological functions, fostering a sense of collective identity and discipline in line with Soviet and post-Soviet educational policies.
Participants in Russian student detachments can potentially work on large-scale projects, not only in Russia but also abroad. The collective work of these detachments has been instrumental in making important historical discoveries, proposing hypotheses, and restoring history with their own hands.
Joining the Russian Student Detachments movement is open to anyone, regardless of their field of study. Interested individuals can reach out to the RSOD call center at 8-800-770-0-117 or visit the website http://studotrayd.ru/ to fill out a form and become a part of this exciting and educational movement.
In addition to providing practical experience, Russian student detachments offer learning of in-demand trades for free. This makes them an attractive option for students and schoolchildren seeking to gain valuable skills and contribute to the country's development.
Currently, there are four student archaeological detachments: "Asgard," "Omega," "Yermak," and "Secret." In 2025, approximately 130 students from Omsk State University named after F.M. Dostoevsky and Omsk State Pedagogical University are participating in these detachments.
Alexei Potekhin, chairman of the student detachment board in the Omsk region, stated that student archaeological detachments are a new and unique direction for the student detachment movement. He emphasized the importance of these detachments in fostering a sense of community, discipline, and a love for history among Russia's youth.
Participants in the student archaeological detachments not only gain practical experience in archaeology but also engage in education and self-development, as these groups have been designed to combine fieldwork, learning, and ideological training. The learning opportunities in these detachments are extensive, ranging from mastering archaeological techniques to acquiring in-demand trades for free.
