Pages: 613-618

The article is devoted to the famous Soviet archaeologist M.I. Artamonov. The author discusses a complicated administrative and scientific situation, which occurred in the Institute for the History of Material Culture (Leningrad) in the late 30-s. The main essence of the situation was a conflict between the research staff of the Institute and its head academician I.A. Orbeli. A role of M.I. Artamonov as a gifted academic leader and scholar is shown both in these events and in his activities as the head of the Institute after I.A. Orbeli.