Abstract: Since first information from travelers and navy expeditions in XIX century the history of ancient South American cultures was in permanent focus of interest for Russian archaeologists and ethnographers. After more than 150 years it’s possible to talk if not about “Russian school” but about specific “tradition” of South American studies in Russia. The intensity of these researches was changing but in any case Russian scholars produced wide range of interesting works and ideas about the origins of South American cultures and civilizations, ancient art and mythology. Current period highly requires new forms of organization and international cooperation and joint projects.