The history of geological and paleontological study of the Silurian plateau - the development area of ​ ​ the Ordovician and Silurian deposits from the Baltic to Lake Ladoga. On the basis of archival and rare literary materials, the initial period of study, as well as the life and activities of St. Petersburg palentologists of the 19th century (Folbort, Eichwald, Pander, Kutorg, Schmidt) are covered in detail.