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Dear collegues, I should like to call your attention information: THE ARCHAEOMETALLOGRAPHICAL RESEARCHES IN RUSSIA Basic archaeometallographical researches of products manufactured of black metal in Russia are carried out in the Laboratory of Natural Sciences of the Institute of Archaeology of RAS (N.N.Terekhova, L.S. Rozanova, V.I.Zavyalov) in present. The works of this group cover a wide scope of problems, including chronological ones (practically from introduction of iron artefacts till the New Time), as well as their geographical distribution in European part of Russia). The important stage in study of ancient smithery was marked by the collective monograph "Essays on History of Ancient Ironworking in Eastern Europe " (Terekhova et al., 1997). Long-term metallographic studies by the scientists of the countries of FSU are summarised in it. One of the important results of the work was revealing the main stages in history of blacksmith craft. During past five years (1995-2000) the Terekhov's group studies the process of interaction of traditions and innovations in blacksmith craft considered as the reflections of cultural contacts. The fundamental work dealing with problems of traditions and innovations was carried out basing on the materials from Finno-Ugrian sites. The obtained results have allowed to maintain, that innovating impulses in the sphere of ironworking were not, as a rule, developed by the local population. In the field of the blacksmith craft the Finno-Ugrian world is considered as rather conservative. Within the framework of the mentioned direction the research of characteristic of the craft centres, interaction in different regions of Northeast Rus was fulfilled. The received data have led to a conclusion, that in interaction of the various craft centres the essential factor was played stability of local traditions and integration of the concrete craft centre within wide sphere of trade communications, as well as the geographical and chronological factors. The following block of questions relates to the classical period. The materials from the sites of the Bosporan Kingdom south-east periphery have been investigated metallographically. This research is directed, was aimed at establishing of a role of the Bosporan colonisation in development of the local ironworking. Proceeding from the archaeometallographical researches it was established, that local blacksmith traditions were formed in the 5th c. BC. They are characterised by use of simple technological patterns and conservative character. The influence of different cultures, including classical world, are not observed in local blacksmith's craft before the 1st c. BC. Certain changes took place only at the turn of the 1st c. BC and the 1st c. AD. Among the peripheral scientific centres, where archaeometallographical studies actively developed in the past years, it is necessary to point to Ulyanovsk, Pskov, Izhevsk and Kemerovo. The researches by Yu.A.Semykin's (Ulyanovsk) are devoted to blacksmith's craft in the Volga Bulgaria. The author has convincingly proved, that the Bolgars ironworking developed from tribal craft toward the advanced production – the basis of economy of the Volga Bulgaria. On early stages of craft traditions, formation in this state was influenced by blacksmith traditions of the Bulgarian nomads of Khazaria, and some native Finno- Ugrian tribes also. The T.Yu.Zakurina's works (Pskov) deal with blacksmith craft of Pskov. The researches of this author bring in the appreciable contribution to the study of ironworking of ancient Russian cities. S.E.Perevoshchikov (Izhevsk) carried out the work devoted to ironworking of the Kama-Vyatka region population in the Middle Ages. N.M.Zinyakov (Kemerovo) studies a history of black metallurgy and metal working of the West Siberia tribes. The results of long-term researches are published in the book "Black metallurgy and blacksmith craft of West Siberia". In the monograph the level of iron-producing industry and evolution of blacksmith technology in the territory of West Siberia from the mid 1st mill. BC up to the mid 2nd mill. AD is shown. As a whole, we should ascertain appreciable activization of archaeometallographical researches in Russian Federation in the last years of the XX century. It is obviously important, that the scientists pass from particular technological themes to statement and solving historical problems, such as craft formation and development, traditions and innovations in ironworking, influence of historical situation upon craft. The successes achieved in the field of ancient metal investigation once again confirm the opinion, that significant successes in this area are possible only by co-operation and joint of efforts constant scientific exchange and drawing complex sources related to the problems in question.