The exhibition Ancient Altai opening on April 26 in the State Historic Museum (Moscow) is dedicated to the 250th anniversary of Mountain Altai territory joining Russia.
      
      On May 2, 1756 the Russian Empress Elizabeth signed the order establishing Altai's voluntary joining Russia. The order was prompted by numerous requests of Altaic people.
      
      The exhibits provided by the State History Museum (Moscow), Anokhin National Museum of Altai Republic(Gorno-Altaisk) and Russian Ethnography Museum (St.-Petersburg) feature the history, archeology, landscapes and ethnography of the Mountain Altai. Here you can see weapons and armory from mounds of the Scythian epoch (7 - 3 cc B.C.) and the Middle Ages (6-10cc), replicas of rock drawings, national costumes and paraphernalia for shamanic rituals.
      
      The life of Altaic people is also highlighted in the artworks by Grigory Choros-Gurkin (1870-1937). His graphic works unfolding ethnographic themes add up to the understanding of the peculiar realm of Altaic culture.
      
      The exhibition will be on till June 25, 2006.
      
      Source: www.regnum.ru