“We Are Obliged to Speak the Truth about History”: the Research Laboratory of A.A. Cherkasov

A.A. Cherkasov, attempts to analyze the evolution of his works and identify the basic principles of the historian's activity.It is shown that thematic diversity of the works of A.A. Cherkasov hampers their systematization and generalization: having started as a historian of the Civil War of 1918-1922, the researcher then turned towards the history of the city of Sochi, and, since 2010s, addresses a variety of issues, including those outside the research field of historical science.Nevertheless, the authors come to a conclusion that 4 features are characteristic for A.A. Cherkasov's works: 1) Priority of verifiable empirical material; 2) Constant aspiration towards new fields of research practice: 3) Widescale archaeographic practice; 4) Conscious refusal of non-obvious, ideologized or emotional generalizations.Such features of his works, on one hand, connect him with scientific schools of V.E.Shchetnev and V.N.Ratushnyak, but, on the other hand, are a reflection of his individual scientific worldview.