ARMED PEOPLE OF EAST AND SOUTHEAST LITHUANIA IN THE GEOCULTURAL CONTEXT OF THE MIGRATION PERIOD

The article discusses the rapidly changing geocultural situation from the fifth to the seventh century in east and southeast Lithuania. As chiefdoms with strong leaders were taking shape from the fifth to the seventh centuries, the demonstration of power by means of exceptional weapons and other cultural elements became a highly important factor. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/ab.v19i0.280 Key words: Migration Period, east Lithuania, southeast Lithuania, weapons, barrows, chiefdom

PREFACE

Volume 23 of Archaeologia Baltica is based on presentations given at the international conference ‘The Sea and the Coastlands’ on 8 October 2015. Dedicated to the 70th birthday of Academician and Professor Dr habil. Vladas Žulkus, the conference was held at Klaipėda University, organised by the Institute of Baltic Region History and Archaeology, in collaboration with the Thomas Mann Museum and the Thomas Mann Cultural Centre. The sponsor of the conference was Neringa Municipality

Preface

PrefaceDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/ab.v19i0.27

VIII–XI a. kuršių vyrų ir moterų papuošalai – pasaulio modeliai

In the 8th–11th c. Curonian men and women used to wear various bronze adornments. Some were common for both men and women, others were preferred by either men or women. Such adornments as cross-bow brooches with animal heads, cross-bow brooches with poppy heads and so-called owl brooches were worn only by men whereas round pendants of various shapes, pins for fastening head-dresses, cross-bow brooches with rings on the shaft, pins with cross-shaped heads were strictly female. The adornments mentioned above denote not only sex, but also features of Curonian worldview based on the concept of the four-part (horizontal) space of the World Tree (WT). The idea is that these adornments were models of the four-part (or eight-part) world space (though in this article adornments based only on the four-part space of WT are being discussed). Thus some adornments mentioned above served as perfect amulets: cross-bow brooches with animal he ails, cross-bow brooches with poppy heads and owl brooches (male adornments), round pendants (female adornments).Investigators of mythology say that the old Baltic culture was formed according to the world model expressed by WT principle. WT idea is reflected in oral folklore, cloth design, national outfit, decoration of various tools and dowry chests.Since the world model expressed in WT shape has been so obviously perpetuated in the ethnographic material, it must have been retained in the archaeological finds as well, including adornment shape, ornamentation, way of wearing, etc. Geometric motifs earlier used in Neolithic ceramics, wooden handicraft wares, amber adornments, were developed and adjusted to bronze and silver adornments. In the late 15th–16th c., when metal adornments ceased to be worn, most of the geometric motifs were transferred to wooden handicraft wares, cloth and ceramics design.The image of WT, which was formed in the late Neolithic era and perpetuated quite obviously in the bronze age, is an all-embracing and all-explaining image of the world concept (fig. 1: 1). The vertical (three-part) structure of WT connects Heaven, Earth and Underground World.In the shape and ornamentation of 8th–11th c. Curonian adornments the vertical structure of WT is much less obvious than the horizontal one. The horizontal structure circumscribes the space around WT, connects people and various objects on both sides of WT. The horizontal WT structure consists of four parts. Such kind of structure enabled one to find one’s bearings in space – to have certain starting points: the North – the South, the East – the West. Thus the world model protected people from four main sides and due to space movement and flow of time from four additional directions: the north-west, the north-east, the south-east and the south-west. Through the form and ornamentation of adornments people at the same time created their world models (fig. 1:1–2; 2–6). Therefore the form, construction and ornamentation of those adornments began to include figures 4 and 8. Thus the world model created an absolutely secure space for people’s living: cultivated land was protected from all possible directions, and the world of the dead was safely separated from that of the living.Due to three-part and four-part space of WT people were able to create their counting systems – triple and quadruple. The WT four-part space was based on the quadruple system. Therefore the Curonians’ preference of figures 4 and 8 is quite comprehensible. These figures are reflected in the shape, construction and ornamentation of adornments (number of motifs, grouping of motifs). Figures 4 and 8 expressing the four-part or the eight-part space are best understood and explained by dividing a circle into 4 or 8 parts. The circle, as an imaginary world space, is divided into four parts by two intercrossing lines. Dividing the circle into 8 parts includes additional directions mentioned above.When trying to go deeper into the semantics of the Baltic geometric ornament, adornment shape and construction, one can find features which are determined and stimulated by the worldview and its corner-stone – the WT with its three part (vertical) and four-part (horizontal) space. If an adornment is decorated according to the three-part space model, the dominating figures in its construction and ornament system will be 3, 6, 9. When the four-part system is the basis, figures 4, 8, 16 will be dominating. These different WT spaces are never confused unless adornment decoration contains production errors (fig. 4).The tree-part and four-part WT spaces are characterised by the sum 3 + 4 = 7. In this way the WT is expressed in a hollow pendant from Stagnai (Klaipėda region) burial ground (fig. 5). The vertical structure of this pendant is clearly three-part whereas the horizontal structure is four-part. The ornamentation of the pendant also includes figure 12, which characterises the existence of the circumscribed space for one year. In somewhat different way the year is defined in a 3rd–4th c. hollow brooch from Pryšmančiai burial ground (fig. 6), in which it is related only to the four-part space.Circumscribing of vertical (Heaven, Earth, Underground World) and horizontal (the North – the South, the East – the West) spaces of the WT, it is not only the philosophical system that is created, but also a certain cultural field, in which gods can create, people can live, animals can exist, plants can grow, i.e. such a field, where every pebble has a clearly perceived purpose and a clearly defined place.The shape, construction and ornamentation of Curonian male and female adornments mentioned above correspond to the WT horizontal four – part space model. It is the four-part (eight-part) WT space that was most relevant for 8th–11th c. Curonians, who were active history creators on the Eastern Baltic coast.The transition of four-part (eight-part) space from the “equilateral cross in a circle” Composition into “imaginary cross in a diamond” (a pin with a prolonged diamond-shaped head), “imaginary cross” (pins with flat hollow heads) or “equilateral cross” constructions due to adornment construction (cross-bow brooches) or shape (cross-bow pins) is quite logical.In the adornments mentioned above, as far as their shape and construction allows, a four-part world model is emphasised. The protection provided by this world model was needed both by men and women, but the adornments of the two genders perpetuated the four-part space in different ways. In the male (warrior) world of the 8th–11th c. the adornments used to be more dynamic than the female ones, with more external influence. In male adornments features of zoomorphic style are clearly expressed. Female adornments-world models have retained traditions of geometric ornamentation and tranquillity of ornaments for a longer period of time. Nevertheless, all these different male and female adornments were decorated with similar elements of geometric ornament (table 1–2).Male adornments. Cross-bow brooches with animal heads of the 8th–9th c. have been found in Lamata Land, where Curonians used to live (present territory of Lithuania and Latvia). Several brooches of this type were also found in the former areas of Žiemgaliai.Besides, cross-bow brooches with animal heads are known to be found in the former Prussian territory. According to the data of 1978, only in Lithuania more than 80 brooches were found in 11 archaeological sites.Cross-how brooches with animal heads are divided into 2 types. Brooches of the first type end with realistic reptile limbs (fig. 7:1; 8–9). Brooches of I a subtype are worth mentioning. Brooches of the second type have a trapezium-shaped plate on the spiral (fig. 7:2–6). Brooches of the II a subtype are of special interest – they are transitional brooches between crossbow brooches with animal heads and cross-bow brooches with poppy heads (fig. 10).Cross-bow brooches with poppy heads are found in the graves of the 8th–11th c. This is one of the last type of crossbow brooches worn by the Balts. Maybe for this reason in the style and ornamentation of these brooches certain degradation can be felt.Cross-bow brooches with poppy heads are found in the former areas of Curonians, Latgaliai, Skalviai, Lamatiečiai, Žemgaliai and Samogitians.Cross-bow brooches with poppy heads can be divided into 2 types. Brooches of the first type are found in the 8th–9th c. graves and have many features of zoomorphic (animal) style (fig. 11–13). Brooches of the second type are found in 10th–11th c. graves and portray totally abstract reptiles (fig. 14–15).Brooches reminding an owl head with open eyes (owl brooches) are found in the late 6th–9th century graves of rich Curonians, Latgalians, Žiemgaliai. These brooches are characteristic only of well-armed men’s graves (fig. 16).Owl brooches have originated from similar brooches that were widely spread in Gotland in the 5th c. But in the late 6th–9th c. these brooches were produced, developed, improved and applied to the Baltic worldview in Lithuania and Latvia. The oldest owl brooches found in the former Curonian areas are dated hack to the 7th – early 8th c. Owl brooches were adjusted by Curonian and Latgalian jewellers to the cross-bow brooch types prevailing in the Baltic areas.Summing up all the information on the 8th–11th c. male adornments, one can conclude that male adornments were more influenced by the Scandinavian world than the female ones. The Scandinavians brought various realistic animal motifs that were later used in traditional Baltic adornments, namely cross-bow brooches and other adornments. Within the Baltic shape, construction and environment, animal motifs were also applied to the Baltic worldview, which had been formed according to the principle of the World Tree model. From the alien aggressive and curling animal motifs only the very abstract idea of motion and visually realistic animal was derived (abstract geometric moving animal motifs in the Baltic worldview were known earlier) and adjusted to the Baltic wordview.Female adornments. Round pendants are the most interesting adornments-amulets most Closely related to the four-part WT space. They are found in the area of a dead woman’s waist, usually on the left side. Round pendants can be divided into two types. Pendants of both types are covered with a hammered silver plate. The main motif of ornamentation is the equilateral cross (fig. 1:2; 17).The head shape and ornamentation of the round pins corresponds to the concept of four-part WT space. Here the equilateral cross is composed into a circle (circles) or a diamond. Some pin-heads contain an obvious equilateral cross (fig. 18–1:3), others contain an imaginary one.According to 1978 data, only 7 pins with stretched diamond-shaped heads are found – in Gudeliai, Laiviai and Palanga burial grounds.Pins of this type are of special interest as their diamond plane, similarly as the circle, can be used for expressing the concept of four-part WT space. The imaginary equilateral cross is emphasised on the corners of the diamond head (fig. 18:5).In the 10th–11th c. burial grounds of north-western Lithuania pins with flat hollow heads are found.Pins of this type are late Curonian pins used for fastening a head-dress. Their style reflects greater abstraction of four-part world model, which manifests itself in style degradation much like in 10th–11th c. male adornments (cross-bow breaches with poppy heads of the second type). The pins are provided with additional details and ornament motifs (fig. 18:6, 9).Together with pins with flat hollow heads smaller pins were sometimes found, whose head fastening resembles a nail, the head is carved or resembles a snowflake (fig. 18:7–8).Cross-bow brooches with rings are adornments characteristic of Baltic tribes. These are most beautiful Baltic adornments worn from the 3rd–4th c. until late 8th c. or even 9th–11th c.Late 8th–9th c. Curonian brooches belong to the third group (fig. 19–21). Curonian women usually used cross-bow brooches with rings for fastening their head-dresses.Similarly to other types of cross-bow brooches, the shape of cross-bow brooches with rings constitutes an imaginary equilateral cross. The cross is decorated with 8 blossoms (4 blossoms on the stem and 4 on the leg).Cross-pins are adornments most characteristic of Lithuanian and Latvian tribes worn from the late 1st millennium and early 2nd millennium AD.These are pins with their heads shaped as an equilateral cross. Cross-pins, like all other kinds of adornments mentioned here, perfectly express the concept of the WT four-part space. Curonian women used to wear pins of all types, but those of 2–4 types were their favourite. Cross-pins of 2–4 types are found only in former Curonian areas (fig. 22–24).Curonian men and women used to wear different adornments of some types. Nevertheless, the decoration of those adornments did not differ a lost since it was based on Baltic geometric ornaments. Both-male and female adornments were ornamented with the same primary geometric motifs (dots, notches, circles, triangles, etc.) (table 1–2). Nonetheless, there was some diversity in the ornamentation of white metal plates covering bronze adornments. Decoration of female white metal plates is more complex and more various.In the 10th–11th c. the world model based on the four-part (eight-part) World “free space and used in the bronze adornments mentioned above loses its importance in the Curonian worldview. In the late 11th c. production and wearing of adornments based on these worldview principles ceased entirely

VIII–XI a. kuršių vyrų ir moterų papuošalai – pasaulio modeliai

In the 8th–11th c. Curonian men and women used to wear various bronze adornments. Some were common for both men and women, others were preferred by either men or women. Such adornments as cross-bow brooches with animal heads, cross-bow brooches with poppy heads and so-called owl brooches were worn only by men whereas round pendants of various shapes, pins for fastening head-dresses, cross-bow brooches with rings on the shaft, pins with cross-shaped heads were strictly female. The adornments mentioned above denote not only sex, but also features of Curonian worldview based on the concept of the four-part (horizontal) space of the World Tree (WT). The idea is that these adornments were models of the four-part (or eight-part) world space (though in this article adornments based only on the four-part space of WT are being discussed). Thus some adornments mentioned above served as perfect amulets: cross-bow brooches with animal he ails, cross-bow brooches with poppy heads and owl brooches (male adornments), round pendants (female adornments).Investigators of mythology say that the old Baltic culture was formed according to the world model expressed by WT principle. WT idea is reflected in oral folklore, cloth design, national outfit, decoration of various tools and dowry chests.Since the world model expressed in WT shape has been so obviously perpetuated in the ethnographic material, it must have been retained in the archaeological finds as well, including adornment shape, ornamentation, way of wearing, etc. Geometric motifs earlier used in Neolithic ceramics, wooden handicraft wares, amber adornments, were developed and adjusted to bronze and silver adornments. In the late 15th–16th c., when metal adornments ceased to be worn, most of the geometric motifs were transferred to wooden handicraft wares, cloth and ceramics design.The image of WT, which was formed in the late Neolithic era and perpetuated quite obviously in the bronze age, is an all-embracing and all-explaining image of the world concept (fig. 1: 1). The vertical (three-part) structure of WT connects Heaven, Earth and Underground World.In the shape and ornamentation of 8th–11th c. Curonian adornments the vertical structure of WT is much less obvious than the horizontal one. The horizontal structure circumscribes the space around WT, connects people and various objects on both sides of WT. The horizontal WT structure consists of four parts. Such kind of structure enabled one to find one’s bearings in space – to have certain starting points: the North – the South, the East – the West. Thus the world model protected people from four main sides and due to space movement and flow of time from four additional directions: the north-west, the north-east, the south-east and the south-west. Through the form and ornamentation of adornments people at the same time created their world models (fig. 1:1–2; 2–6). Therefore the form, construction and ornamentation of those adornments began to include figures 4 and 8. Thus the world model created an absolutely secure space for people’s living: cultivated land was protected from all possible directions, and the world of the dead was safely separated from that of the living.Due to three-part and four-part space of WT people were able to create their counting systems – triple and quadruple. The WT four-part space was based on the quadruple system. Therefore the Curonians’ preference of figures 4 and 8 is quite comprehensible. These figures are reflected in the shape, construction and ornamentation of adornments (number of motifs, grouping of motifs). Figures 4 and 8 expressing the four-part or the eight-part space are best understood and explained by dividing a circle into 4 or 8 parts. The circle, as an imaginary world space, is divided into four parts by two intercrossing lines. Dividing the circle into 8 parts includes additional directions mentioned above.When trying to go deeper into the semantics of the Baltic geometric ornament, adornment shape and construction, one can find features which are determined and stimulated by the worldview and its corner-stone – the WT with its three part (vertical) and four-part (horizontal) space. If an adornment is decorated according to the three-part space model, the dominating figures in its construction and ornament system will be 3, 6, 9. When the four-part system is the basis, figures 4, 8, 16 will be dominating. These different WT spaces are never confused unless adornment decoration contains production errors (fig. 4).The tree-part and four-part WT spaces are characterised by the sum 3 + 4 = 7. In this way the WT is expressed in a hollow pendant from Stagnai (Klaipėda region) burial ground (fig. 5). The vertical structure of this pendant is clearly three-part whereas the horizontal structure is four-part. The ornamentation of the pendant also includes figure 12, which characterises the existence of the circumscribed space for one year. In somewhat different way the year is defined in a 3rd–4th c. hollow brooch from Pryšmančiai burial ground (fig. 6), in which it is related only to the four-part space.Circumscribing of vertical (Heaven, Earth, Underground World) and horizontal (the North – the South, the East – the West) spaces of the WT, it is not only the philosophical system that is created, but also a certain cultural field, in which gods can create, people can live, animals can exist, plants can grow, i.e. such a field, where every pebble has a clearly perceived purpose and a clearly defined place.The shape, construction and ornamentation of Curonian male and female adornments mentioned above correspond to the WT horizontal four – part space model. It is the four-part (eight-part) WT space that was most relevant for 8th–11th c. Curonians, who were active history creators on the Eastern Baltic coast.The transition of four-part (eight-part) space from the “equilateral cross in a circle” Composition into “imaginary cross in a diamond” (a pin with a prolonged diamond-shaped head), “imaginary cross” (pins with flat hollow heads) or “equilateral cross” constructions due to adornment construction (cross-bow brooches) or shape (cross-bow pins) is quite logical.In the adornments mentioned above, as far as their shape and construction allows, a four-part world model is emphasised. The protection provided by this world model was needed both by men and women, but the adornments of the two genders perpetuated the four-part space in different ways. In the male (warrior) world of the 8th–11th c. the adornments used to be more dynamic than the female ones, with more external influence. In male adornments features of zoomorphic style are clearly expressed. Female adornments-world models have retained traditions of geometric ornamentation and tranquillity of ornaments for a longer period of time. Nevertheless, all these different male and female adornments were decorated with similar elements of geometric ornament (table 1–2).Male adornments. Cross-bow brooches with animal heads of the 8th–9th c. have been found in Lamata Land, where Curonians used to live (present territory of Lithuania and Latvia). Several brooches of this type were also found in the former areas of Žiemgaliai.Besides, cross-bow brooches with animal heads are known to be found in the former Prussian territory. According to the data of 1978, only in Lithuania more than 80 brooches were found in 11 archaeological sites.Cross-how brooches with animal heads are divided into 2 types. Brooches of the first type end with realistic reptile limbs (fig. 7:1; 8–9). Brooches of I a subtype are worth mentioning. Brooches of the second type have a trapezium-shaped plate on the spiral (fig. 7:2–6). Brooches of the II a subtype are of special interest – they are transitional brooches between crossbow brooches with animal heads and cross-bow brooches with poppy heads (fig. 10).Cross-bow brooches with poppy heads are found in the graves of the 8th–11th c. This is one of the last type of crossbow brooches worn by the Balts. Maybe for this reason in the style and ornamentation of these brooches certain degradation can be felt.Cross-bow brooches with poppy heads are found in the former areas of Curonians, Latgaliai, Skalviai, Lamatiečiai, Žemgaliai and Samogitians.Cross-bow brooches with poppy heads can be divided into 2 types. Brooches of the first type are found in the 8th–9th c. graves and have many features of zoomorphic (animal) style (fig. 11–13). Brooches of the second type are found in 10th–11th c. graves and portray totally abstract reptiles (fig. 14–15).Brooches reminding an owl head with open eyes (owl brooches) are found in the late 6th–9th century graves of rich Curonians, Latgalians, Žiemgaliai. These brooches are characteristic only of well-armed men’s graves (fig. 16).Owl brooches have originated from similar brooches that were widely spread in Gotland in the 5th c. But in the late 6th–9th c. these brooches were produced, developed, improved and applied to the Baltic worldview in Lithuania and Latvia. The oldest owl brooches found in the former Curonian areas are dated hack to the 7th – early 8th c. Owl brooches were adjusted by Curonian and Latgalian jewellers to the cross-bow brooch types prevailing in the Baltic areas.Summing up all the information on the 8th–11th c. male adornments, one can conclude that male adornments were more influenced by the Scandinavian world than the female ones. The Scandinavians brought various realistic animal motifs that were later used in traditional Baltic adornments, namely cross-bow brooches and other adornments. Within the Baltic shape, construction and environment, animal motifs were also applied to the Baltic worldview, which had been formed according to the principle of the World Tree model. From the alien aggressive and curling animal motifs only the very abstract idea of motion and visually realistic animal was derived (abstract geometric moving animal motifs in the Baltic worldview were known earlier) and adjusted to the Baltic wordview.Female adornments. Round pendants are the most interesting adornments-amulets most Closely related to the four-part WT space. They are found in the area of a dead woman’s waist, usually on the left side. Round pendants can be divided into two types. Pendants of both types are covered with a hammered silver plate. The main motif of ornamentation is the equilateral cross (fig. 1:2; 17).The head shape and ornamentation of the round pins corresponds to the concept of four-part WT space. Here the equilateral cross is composed into a circle (circles) or a diamond. Some pin-heads contain an obvious equilateral cross (fig. 18–1:3), others contain an imaginary one.According to 1978 data, only 7 pins with stretched diamond-shaped heads are found – in Gudeliai, Laiviai and Palanga burial grounds.Pins of this type are of special interest as their diamond plane, similarly as the circle, can be used for expressing the concept of four-part WT space. The imaginary equilateral cross is emphasised on the corners of the diamond head (fig. 18:5).In the 10th–11th c. burial grounds of north-western Lithuania pins with flat hollow heads are found.Pins of this type are late Curonian pins used for fastening a head-dress. Their style reflects greater abstraction of four-part world model, which manifests itself in style degradation much like in 10th–11th c. male adornments (cross-bow breaches with poppy heads of the second type). The pins are provided with additional details and ornament motifs (fig. 18:6, 9).Together with pins with flat hollow heads smaller pins were sometimes found, whose head fastening resembles a nail, the head is carved or resembles a snowflake (fig. 18:7–8).Cross-bow brooches with rings are adornments characteristic of Baltic tribes. These are most beautiful Baltic adornments worn from the 3rd–4th c. until late 8th c. or even 9th–11th c.Late 8th–9th c. Curonian brooches belong to the third group (fig. 19–21). Curonian women usually used cross-bow brooches with rings for fastening their head-dresses.Similarly to other types of cross-bow brooches, the shape of cross-bow brooches with rings constitutes an imaginary equilateral cross. The cross is decorated with 8 blossoms (4 blossoms on the stem and 4 on the leg).Cross-pins are adornments most characteristic of Lithuanian and Latvian tribes worn from the late 1st millennium and early 2nd millennium AD.These are pins with their heads shaped as an equilateral cross. Cross-pins, like all other kinds of adornments mentioned here, perfectly express the concept of the WT four-part space. Curonian women used to wear pins of all types, but those of 2–4 types were their favourite. Cross-pins of 2–4 types are found only in former Curonian areas (fig. 22–24).Curonian men and women used to wear different adornments of some types. Nevertheless, the decoration of those adornments did not differ a lost since it was based on Baltic geometric ornaments. Both-male and female adornments were ornamented with the same primary geometric motifs (dots, notches, circles, triangles, etc.) (table 1–2). Nonetheless, there was some diversity in the ornamentation of white metal plates covering bronze adornments. Decoration of female white metal plates is more complex and more various.In the 10th–11th c. the world model based on the four-part (eight-part) World “free space and used in the bronze adornments mentioned above loses its importance in the Curonian worldview. In the late 11th c. production and wearing of adornments based on these worldview principles ceased entirely

Preface

PrefaceDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/ab.v18i0.6

VII a. pirmosios pusės karys iš Lazdininkų (Kalnalaukio)

Rich warrior grave 73 was found in the south–eastern part of the cemetery within excavations of 2000 (KrM LS 2561/196–215). Diseased persons was buried in a grave pit which has measures of 275 x 54 cm and was deep of 86 cm. Diseased individual was put into the hollowed – out log coffin and buried at the beginning of the summer. About the time of bury possible to know from ripening of a maple seed (Acer platanoides). Maple seed was found between belt plates. Enough big parts of the hollowed – out log coffin was discovered in preparation of the grave 73 in the deep of 60–65 cm. From a skeleton of diseased person survived only upper part of death’s head, fragment of upper maxilla and two teeth. From the other parts of the skeleton was found fragments of femur skin – bone and bones of the left hand. The burial posture of the diseased person permit to maintain that head of individual was orientated to north–west (280°). Diseased individual was buried in extended position, right hand was put on the breast of the buried individual; left hand was extended (fig. 1). At Lazdininkai grave 73 was buried individual about 20–25 years old, according to the grave goods male. In was mentioned that it has been tried to disentomb the burial. Phenomenon of such disentombing is not clear enough.Traces of bronze drinking horn orifice binding and the remains of the clay pot miniature were found in the end of hollowed – out log coffin above the head of the buried individual, in the left side (fig. 1:1–2). Two spearheads there were discovered at the left side of the buried individual head on the coffin side (fig. 1:4–5; 2:1–2). One of the spearheads was 27,5 long with a pronounced mid rib. Another spearhead was 60,5 cm long, with very narrow upper part. This spearhead should be ascribed to the type I d, according to Lithuanian weapons typology. However, there are not so long spearheads found in Lithuania before. Iron-socketed axe, scythe, riding bit with a three-jointed mouthpiece and sandstone whetstone was put above the head diseased person (fig. 1:6–9; 2:3, 5–7). Small truncated biconical, lathed amber bead was found near the maxilla of buried individual (fig. 1:10; 8:3). Three fibulae have been fastening cloth of the buried individual on a breast (fig. 1:11–13; 6, 8). One of them crossbow zoomorphic brooch is 13 cm length; width of an axis is 13,6 cm (fig. 1:11; 6). The foot, bow, spiral and end knobs of axle are made from bronze; axis and pin are produced from iron. Two silver rings ending the fibula foot. Head of an animal with elongated eyes adorned fibula foot. Eyes of animal are made from blue glasses. Two different relief geometrical motifs decorated the bow and foot of the brooch. Metopine plate, covered by silver plate with blue glass adorned bow of crossbow zoomorphic fibula. The variety of metals and blue glasses of crossbow zoomorhpic fibula, gives possibility established stylistic links with hunic polichromic style of the fifth–sixth centuries and latest Germanic cloisonné style. The crossbow zoomorphic fibula is dated to the first half of the seventh century.Two others bronze crossbow fibulae with ladder fastened cloth of buried individual (fig. 1:12–13; 8:1–2). Both fibulae belong to the earliest type of such brooches and have been dated to the second half of the sixth century–seventh century. Two bronze spiral rings adorned the left hand of the buried individual (fig. 1:18–19; 8). One bronze spiral ring was on the right hand of the buried individual (fig. 1:18–19; 8:2). One-edged sword with splendid scabbard and strap-handle was put on the breast of buried individual (fig. 1:15, 3). The sword is 54,5 cm long; width of blade is 3,5 cm. One-edged sword blade long 44 cm. Sword does not has cross-guard. Such sword is dated to the fifth–eight centuries in Lithuania. Curonians started to use one-edged sword in the first half of the seventh century. One edged sword was put into a very richly adorned scabbard. Scabbard, perhaps were made from wood. Four zoomorphic pendants were hung to scabbard. Straphandle was fastened scabbard to the belt. Spacer rosettes, silver bindings, bronze rivets adorned strap-handle belts (fig. 3). There were found the details of the belt in the area of the waist and knees (fig. 1:17; 4). The belt has fifth bronze openwork belt plates and silver belt plates (fig. 4:3–5). Bronze openwork belt plates were found under silver ones. Belt has bronze covered by silver plate end of irregular shape (fig. 4:2). Four lancets shaped pendants were a part of the belt embellishment (fig. 4:6). The one-edged sword through the system of the small belts was hang up to the splendid belt. Smaller hafted knife was found beside the one-edged sword (fig. 1:16; 2:4).Chronology, social and ethnical dependence of the buried individual. Abundant, without analogues in Lithuania, grave goods show that at Lazdininkai grave 73 was buried noble warrior, horseman, who has connections with western Mazurian Lakeland, Sambian Peninsula and Gotland (fig. 1–9).One-edged swords are known from the sixth–eighth centuries in the territory of the Baltic tribes. The spearheads found in the grave are characteristic to the sixth–seventh centuries. The order of the putting of the additional grave goods (spear heads, socketed axe, scythe, riding bit, whetstone) – in the left side above the head of the buried individual – is characteristic to the cemeteries of the Lithuanian seaside not only in the Roman Iron Age and Migration Period, but also to the burials of Curonian warriors in the seventh–ninth centuries. Such funeral elements as position of the drinking horn above the head of the buried individual, belt place on the breast of the buried individual are common Curonian burials. The bronze openwork belt plates and lancet shaped pendants shows point close connections of buried individual to Mazurian Lakeland, Sambian Peninsula, and Scandinavia.Geometrical motifs of some details on scabbard and crossbow zoomorphical fibula (“the gees feet”; fig. 5) were known only from the archaeological material of the fifth–sixth century. Until now, V type plaited pattern was known only from the Southern Curonian burial sites of the eight–ninth centuries.Conclusions: Noble warrior was buried at Lazdininkai cemetery, grave 73, in the first half of the seventh century. Evidentially, young man from Lazdininkai grave 73 has been belonging to warrior elite of western Balts society. Such complex of grave goods is found for the first time in Lithuania. Archaeological material from Lazdininkai fills up the chronological gap between graves of sea coastal Lithuania cemeteries and Curonian burials. All grave goods found in the grave 73 show development of artefact types, forms and stylistic peculiarities and links with other regions in the end of the sixth–the first half of the seventh century. This fact also gives possibility to make conclusions about sources on which ethnical bases Curonian’s build their society

THE MYSTERIOUS COLLECTION OF FR KONSTANTINAS KUPRYS-KUPREVIČIUS

We have little information about the priest and collector Konstantinas Kuprys-Kuprevičius (1874–1947) and his mysterious collection. He became known in cultural circles only when the State Archaeological Commission and the media mentioned him in 1935, because he acquired the archaeological collection of Fr Juozapas Žiogas (1868–1935) under unclear circumstances.* Before his death, Fr Žiogas left his collection in his will to Kaunas’ Vytautas the Great Museum of Culture. On 27 December 1935, Fr Kuprys-Kuprevičius showed his acquired collection of antiquities, along with his own pieces, in an exhibition at St Anthony’s Missionary College. After that, and until the death of Fr Kuprys-Kuprevičius, Lithuanian archaeologists and museum staff unsuccessfully attempted to take over or to repurchase the Žiogas collection. It is therefore not surprising that there was a negative opinion about Fr Kuprys-Kuprevičius in Lithuanian archaeological historiography. This article will try to illuminate the story of his life, his philanthropic activities, his passionate love of antiquities and archaeological artefacts, and his collection, which is sometimes referred to as his ‘museum’. However, due to a lack of archive data, and the mysterious disappearance of the Žiogas collection, some questions still remain.Key words: Konstantinas Kuprys-Kuprevičius, priest, collector, collection.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/ ab.v1i0.114

NON-DESTRUCTIVE METHODS IN FIELD ARCHAEOLOGY IN LITHUANIA: THE FIRST RESULTS OF A GERMAN-LITHUANIAN PROJECT

Since 2010, several archaeological sites in Lithuania have been geomagnetically surveyed, as part of a German-Lithuanian cooperation project. Within the framework of this cooperation, the Ėgliškiai/Anduliai cemetery, the Taurapilis barrow site, Taurapilis and Opstainiai/Vilkyškiai (outer settlements), and Jakai/Sudmantai (the enclosure) have been investigated. In almost all the sites, features and structures were detected that enable us to make some initial statements about the structure and dimensions of the archaeological monuments. For some sites, the surveys also provided very precise and hitherto unknown information about the context of the settlement. These new results show clearly the potential of non-invasive, especially geomagnetic, methods for archaeological purposes. However, it should be admitted that only a combination of several methods and tools enables a maximum level of knowledge and information on the scientific value and potential of archaeological sites and landscapes. The task for the coming years must therefore focus on the application and combination of further non-invasive geophysical (ground penetrating radar, electrical resistivity) and remote sensing methods in archaeological surveys.Key words: geomagnetic investigations, Lithuania, archaeological sites, German-Lithuanian cooperation.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/ ab.v1i0.113

SKOMANTAI HILL-FORT IN WESTERN LITHUANIA: A CASE STUDY ON HABITATION SITE AND ENVIRONMENT

Hill-forts are visually distinct archaeological monuments of the Lithuanian landscape; despite excavations that have recently become more intensive, more often than not we still make judgments of hill-forts on the basis of their surviving image, which is assumed to reflect the final stage of their existence. Usually our knowledge about the size of the settlement at its foot, its planigraphy, and of course chronology, is too slender to make any conclusions. By employing complex non-destructive research methods (palynological, geochemical, lithological and geomagnetic analysis, as well as 14C and thermoluminescence dating), the article discusses the time of the rise and the abandonment of Skomantai hill-fort and settlements, the hierarchical relations with the hill-fort as an object forming the settlement structure of the neighbouring area, both settlements at the foot of the hill, and the surrounding burial grounds and monuments, all of which make up a micro-region. As the economic model of the community and the social structure of society changed, the relations between the hill-fort and the settlements changed, as did the purpose of the hill-fort.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/ab.v17i0.55 Key words: western Lithuania, Skomantai, hill-fort, settlements, micro-region, human activity, non-destructive research methods, 14C dating, thermoluminescence dating