The Reconstruction of Wells and Lime Bark Buckets from Lieporiai 1 Settlement

Svarbiausias šio straipsnio tikslas yra aprašyti ir paskelbti archeologinio eksperimento – liepos žievės kibirėlių vandeniui iš šulinio semti siuvimo ir bandymo rezultatus – medžiagas ir eigą. Buvo padarytos ir šulinių, kuriuose rasti kibirėliai, medinių sienų rekonstrukcijos, tačiau ne natūraliomis sąlygomis, bet muziejuje ir brėžiniuose. Pirmojoje straipsnio dalyje detaliai aprašomos medinių šulinių su nuskendusiais liepos žievės kibirėliais atradimo aplinkybės, antrojoje – jų rekonstrukcijos eiga. 1983 m. tyrinėtame Lieporių (Šiaulių miesto pakraštys) archeologiniame komplekse aptiktas unikalus radinys – IV-VI a. datuojama geležies lydykla su mediniais šuliniais ir juose nuskendusiais, dumble užsikonservavusiais liepos žievės kibirėliais, kurie neturi vienalaikių analogijų Lietuvos archeologinėje medžiagoje. 1998 m. vasarą buvo padaryta šių kibirėlių gamybos rekonstrukcija, po to dar keletą metų eksperimentuota ir tobulinta technologija bei įrankiai. Kibirėlių gamybos rekonstrukcija buvo demonstruojama 1998-2003 m. įvairiuose eksperimentinės ir gyvosios archeologijos renginiuose Lietuvoje, Lenkijoje ir Latvijoje.The main aim of this article is to describe and publicize the results, material and the process of implementation of an archaeological experiment, i.e. sewing and testing of buckets for taking water from wells from small-leaved lime peels. Researchers also implemented the reconstruction of wooden walls of the wells where the buckets were found; however, those reconstructions were implemented not in natural surroundings, but in museums and on sketches. The first part describes the factors determining the discovery of wooden wells with sunken buckets made from small-leaved lime trees, whereas the second part devotes its attention to the process of reconstruction of those wells. In 1983, during the exploration of the archaeological complex of Lieporiai (the periphery of Šauliai), a unique finding was discovered. That was an iron smelter with wooden wells and sunken buckets from small-leaved lime tree, which preserved in the sludge. There are no contemporaneous analogues with those buckets in Lithuanian archaeology. In summer 1998, the reconstruction of the manufacturing process of those buckets was implemented. Further technology and tools experiments and improvement efforts were implemented during the succeeding years. The reconstruction of the manufacturing process of the buckets was demonstrated within the period of 1998-2003 during various experimental and life archaeology events in Lithuania, Poland and Latvia

Iron production site in Lieporiai settlement 1

In Lithuanian archaeology, much attention is paid to the technologies of iron smelting and blacksmithing, and less to the findings of the iron smelting business. Therefore, the process of iron extraction is more often reconstructed in accordance with technology, not with the findings. In the 1st settlement of Lieporiai complex of archaeological monuments, a place for smelting iron as well as various other discoveries, that make it possible to reconstruct the process of iron smelting, were found. The aim of the article is to interpret all findings, related to iron smelting, found during the exploration of this settlement. The interpretation of the findings is based on laboratory research data, analogies from other studies on archaeological monuments and works by researchers from Lithuania and other European countries. The first findings, related to iron smelting in Lieporiai, were discovered in 1992, but their purpose only became clear in subsequent researches, as the number of findings kept increasing. The data of the research carried out show that iron in the 1st settlement of Lieporiai was melted in the 4-7 centuries A.D. In this settlement, the choice of the place where the iron was melted was determined by the iron ore deposit and the proximity of the forest. Hydrated iron ore was produced in Lieporiai. It was done in an open way by digging pits on the surface of the Earth. In 1992-2000, 18 iron ore pits, 4 wells, the water of which was used for washing the ore, as well as ore burning fireplaces and ore crushing tools were found and investigated. Charcoal was used for iron smelting. Ironworks were produced in special smitheries, using stone tools. What was made was weapons, tools and various other articles

Iron metallurgy finds and their spread in Lithuania’s territory

Geležies metalurgijos raida yra svarbi geležies amžiaus tyrimo problema. Lietuvoje plačiau ji tyrinėjama nuo XX a. vidurio, tačiau daugiau dėmesio buvo skiriama geležies lydymo ir kalvystės technologijoms. Kur kas menkiau tyrinėta geležies metalurgijos archeologiniai radiniai – įranga, įrankiai, žaliavos, gamybos produktai ir gamybos atliekos. Lietuvos archeologijos literatūroje susiklostė nuomonė, kad geležies metalurgija mūsų krašte buvo naminis vers-las, kuriuo vertėsi dauguma ar net visos geležies amžiaus žemdirbių bendruomenės, tačiau ši nuomonė pagrįsta ne geležies metalurgijos radimviečių tyrimais, o geležies dirbinių gausa archeologijos paminkluose. Šiame straipsnyje apžvelgiamos šiuo metu žinomos radimvietės su geležies lydymo radiniais. Tyrimui taikant kartografinį ir statistinį metodus siekiama nustatyti radimviečių paplitimą Lietuvos teritorijoje ir jo ypatybes, apžvelgti geležies metalurgijos raidą ir jos savitumus. Nustatyta, kad geležies metalurgijos radimvietės Lietuvoje susijusios tik su gyventomis, o ne gamybos vietomis. [...]Research and findings of Lithuanian archaeologists during several last decades have provided much new and valu-able material for the studies of iron metallurgy business. All archaeological sites of Lithuania dated before the 13thcentury, where iron metallurgy finds were discovered, are related to the settlements of one or another type. None of them could be assigned to the category of different places of production. Iron metallurgy finds are found in mounds (sites), mounds with settlements, open settlements and burial monuments established in places of former settlements. [...

Geležies metalurgija Lietuvos teritorijoje. Archeologinių dirbinių analizė

The first data on the findings of iron metallurgy in Lithuania are known from the first half of the 20th century and during the postwar times the studies were expanded. The use of iron, i. e. the articles and their types, smithery, its technologies and development was best studied however the phase of extraction and initial processing is less known. The article aims at defining and substantiating the subject of studying the iron metallurgy, its structure, discussing the sources of studies and analyzing, systematizing, typologizing the archeological findings of iron metallurgy and other data, collected in Lithuania and connecting them into one system according to the phases of the technological development of iron metallurgy. The subject of the study is the archeological locations of findings of iron metallurgy, all the archeological findings, related with the iron metallurgy and covering all the phases of the business (objects, articles, products and waste materials), as well as the system of objects and findings of iron metallurgy. The archeological findings are analyzed according to the same procedure as when alloying iron, i. e. the raw material, the search for and preparation of the raw material, the fuel and its preparation, the iron alloying equipment and tools are discussed. The findings of the phase of preparation for alloying iron are analyzed, i. e. findings of iron ore, its extraction, cleaning and burning as well as burning of wood, the alloying of iron, its equipment, products and production waste is overviewed

The iron production site in Lieporiai settlement 1

Little data can be found about iron smelting in Lithuania in the first millennium AD. Researchers paid more attention to smithy and technologies of ironware production of that period than to the findings reflecting the process of iron smelting. In the hill forts and settlements separate finds of this trade were detected, such as furnaces and their remnants, pieces of slag, and so on; however, findings concerning the whole process of iron smelling at its separate stages were less numerous Lieporiai complex of archaeological monuments (Settlement 1, Settlement 2, and Cemetery, dated 4,h-9lh centuries AD) was recently uncovered near Šiauliai. An iron production site was discovered in Settlement I, and it has been investigated since 1992. Compactly situated archaeological findings display a complete cycle of iron smelting. Among them were iron ore digging pits in clayey yellow sand with accumulation of hydrate iron ore. To wash the extracted ore, a considerable quantity of water was needed, but no natural water source was found near the site. [...

Archaeological investigations at manor houses in Šiauliai region: process, results and usage

Manor houses, an important part of the history and cultural heritage of Lithuania, encompass wide spheres of social and economic history, architecture and material culture. A network of manor houses built during several centuries is a significant part of the multifaceted, multi-functional system of Lithuanian cultural symbols revealing links with the development of European nations and states. The collected material shows that there were 3342 manor houses in Lithuania. Data on manor houses under state protection vary but nowadays there are about 600 manor houses listed in the Register of Cultural Heritage. Research into immovable cultural heritage of manor houses includes research into their history, protection, upkeep, maintenance, architecture, landscape, art history, etc. Research into manor houses is not an end in itself, its results are used while restoring and adapting them to suit the needs of the hospitality industry. It was at the turn of the 21st century when manor houses became the object of archaeological practice (excavations) and theory (the archaeology of historic periods) in Lithuania; the inventory of manor houses and their inclusion in the Register of Cultural Heritage have substantially changed their legal status. Nowadays the legal acts on regulate heritage protection oblige the owner or manager to organise archaeological investigations at buildings, parks, other structures before starting their restoration works. Primary excavation data, scientific sources and informative articles published in Archaeological Investigations in Lithuania have been used in this paper. In Lithuania, archaeological field research into 171 manor houses has been carried out. There are 90 manor houses under state protection in Šiauliai region, and archaeological investigations have been carried out at 24 (26%).So many archaeological investigations show that manor houses in Šiauliai region are being extensively restored and adapted for various cultural, recreational, commercial purposes. In 1995–2014, 80 archaeological expeditions were arranged to 24 manor houses in Šiauliai region but only 8 manor houses in Baisogala, Joniškis, Kelmė, Kuršėnai, Kurtuvėnai Pakruojis, Rėkyva, Šiauliai have been most thoroughly researched during the period of at least 3 years. The findings from these archaeological investigations are new historical sources of research into the structure, architecture, construction of manor houses, local crafts and industry, economic and commercial links, material culture and lifestyle, valuable material while restoring manor houses and developing cultural activity and tourism in them