The results of the 4^th Russian Archaeological Congress that took place in Kazan in 1877 and made a great contribution to the development of Russian archaeology are considered. It can be said that starting from the Kazan convention the Russian Archaeological Congresses became a permanent organizational structure. The idea of establishing a scientific society in Kazan was suggested at the Congress, and in 1878 the Society for Archaeology, History and Ethnography was created with Kazan University. The research areas such as Finno-Ugric and Golden Horde archaeology, as well as Bulgar studies largely have their origin from that time. The article highlights the thematic range of presentations made at the Congress, which have not lost actuality today. The rare photographs taken at Archaeological Congresses and kept in Moscow and St. Petersburg archival funds are published in the article for the first time