Svetlana Alexandrovna Pletneva (also spelled Pletnyeva and Pletnyova; Russian: Светлана Александровна Плетнёва, Russian pronunciation: [svʲɪtɫənə ɐlʲɪksəndrəvnə plʲɪtʲˈnʲɵvə]; 1 April 1926 – 20 November 2008) was a Russian and Soviet archaeologist and historian. Like Lev Gumilev, she was a student of Mikhail Artamonov, although she discarded many of the former's theories as mere speculations. She won the USSR State Prize in 1986.

Professor Svetlana Pletnyova
Светлана Плетнёва
Pronunciation	Russian pronunciation: [svʲɪtɫənə plʲɪtʲˈnʲɵvə]
Born	(1926-01-01)1 January 1926 Vyatka, Urzhumsky Uyezd, Vyatka Governorate, Soviet Union
Died	20 November 2008(2008-11-20) (aged 65) Moscow, Russia
Alma mater	Moscow State University (1949)
Known for	Known for her studies of the Eurasian nomads, notably the Khazars
Awards	Order of the Badge of Honour, Medal "For Labour Valour", Medal "For Distinguished Labour", USSR State Prize
Scientific career
Fields	History, Archaeology
Institutions	Institute of Archaeology of Russian Academy of Sciences [ru]
Thesis	From nomads to cities (1967)
Academic advisors	Mikhail Artamonov, Boris Rybakov
Notable students	Murtazali Gadjiev, Igor Kyzlasov [ru], Viktor Chkhaidze [ru]

Pletneva is the author of numerous books on Eurasian nomads, particularly the Khazars.