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

Особенности среды осадконакопления в акватории порта Швянтойи, Литва

The article presents results of water area investigations in the Šventoji port, Lithuania in June 2004. The data obtained showed changes of the sedimentation environment and bottom sediments in the Šventoji port in a different geographical situation. The goals of the investigations were to determine the main geographical factors responsible for the character of sedimentation processes, to distinguish sedimentogenetic zones, to reveal lithological composition patterns of the surface bottom sediments, and to find out whether the water indices are able to reflect changes in sedimentation conditions. The work includes analysis of a new river channel formatting and changing of the contour of the water basin. We have found that water indices reflect changes in sedimentation conditions. New bathymetric and lithological maps were compiled. Silty-clayey mud (26%) and muddy-sandy silt (16%) have been shown to be the most widespread surface bottom sediments in the Šventoji port

Особенности среды осадконакопления в акватории порта Швянтойи, Литва

The article presents results of water area investigations in the Šventoji port, Lithuania in June 2004. The data obtained showed changes of the sedimentation environment and bottom sediments in the Šventoji port in a different geographical situation. The goals of the investigations were to determine the main geographical factors responsible for the character of sedimentation processes, to distinguish sedimentogenetic zones, to reveal lithological composition patterns of the surface bottom sediments, and to find out whether the water indices are able to reflect changes in sedimentation conditions. The work includes analysis of a new river channel formatting and changing of the contour of the water basin. We have found that water indices reflect changes in sedimentation conditions. New bathymetric and lithological maps were compiled. Silty-clayey mud (26%) and muddy-sandy silt (16%) have been shown to be the most widespread surface bottom sediments in the Šventoji port

On the effectiveness of tributyltin ban part II: Temporal and spatial trends of organotin pollution in intense sediment accumulation areas and dumping sites of the Baltic Sea

Based on the knowledge gained from our previous study, our aim is to observe the current levels of butyltin (BTs) pollution, changes during different seasons, and the factors that affect these trends in the areas of highest concern. These areas include semi-enclosed bays in the Port that were previously affected by large tributyltin (TBT) inputs, as well as the dumping sites of dredged sediment in the Baltic Sea. Compared to previous studies, there has been a significant decrease in the levels of BTs in the Klaipeda Port. However, the sediment in the semi-enclosed bays still contained BTs, ranging from less than 0.5 ng Sn g−1 dw to as high as 728.5 ng Sn g−1 dw. Some BTs were also detected in the currently exploited dumping sites of the Baltic Sea. Moreover, butyltin degradation index (BDI) revealed occasional fresh TBT input or slow degradation both in the Port and in the Sea. Some trends in butyltin concentrations were indicative of the impact of climate change in Lithuania, which are consistent with global trends. We also found that variations in BTs concentrations were closely related to dredging and cleaning activities taking place in the Klaipeda Port. Correlation, principal component, and cluster analysis revealed close relationship between TBT and its degradation products, as well as between TBT and Zn, Pb, Cu. Ship cleaning/maintenance activities were identified as the main source of pollution in the study area. Despite the gradually decreasing BTs concentration in the Klaipeda Port, the problem is not yet completely solved

Assessing bottom sediment contamination with heavy metals in the Klaipėda port semi-closed bays / Klaipėdos uosto pusiau uždarų įlankų dugno nuosėdų užterštumo sunkiaisiais metalais vertinimas

The present paper reports the results obtained by investigation of surface bottom sediment contamination with Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cr, Cd, Hg in three largest semi-closed bays of Klaipėda Port in 2008 and 2009. The concentrations of heavy metals and organic carbon same as the percentages of 6 granular fractions were determined at 41 stations. The contamination level was established by calculating the Nemerov's pollution index. The major factors responsible for sediment contamination with heavy metals and distribution patterns of discrete pollutants and different pollution areas were determined. By comparison of the obtained results with the results of 1998, the changes of sediment contamination with heavy metals in the last ten years were evaluated. It was determined that bottom sediments not contaminated with heavy metals are dominant in the semi-closed bays of Klaipėda port. Heavy contamination with nickel, and moderate contamination with zinc and copper only occur in small areas. Santrauka Nagrinėjami trijų didžiausių Klaipėdos uosto pusiau uždarų įlankų paviršinių dugno nuosėdų užterštumo sunkiaisiais metalais 2008–2009 m. ypatumai. Tyrimų tikslas – įvertinti nuosėdų užterštumo sunkiaisiais metalais Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cr, Cd, Hg lygį ir nustatyti taršos tendencijas. Tikslui įgyvendinti 41 stotyje nustatytos metalų ir organinės anglies koncentracijos bei nuosėdų šešių granulinių frakcijų procentiniai kiekiai. Užterštumo lygiui nustatyti apskaičiuotas Nemerovo užterštumo indeksas, atlikta jo reikšmių erdvinio pasiskirstymo analizė. Nustatyti svarbiausi nuosėdų užterštumą sunkiaisiais metalais lemiantys veiksniai, skirtingo užterštumo nuosėdų arealų ir įvairių taršos elementų pasiskirstymo ypatumai. Gautus rezultatus palyginus su analogiškais 1998 m. tyrimų rezultatais, įvertinti nuosėdų užterštumo sunkiaisiais metalais pokyčiai per dešimtmetį. Įrodyta, kad Klaipėdos uosto pusiau uždarose įlankose vyrauja sunkiaisiais metalais neužterštos dugno nuosėdos. Tik nedideliuose arealuose yra dugno nuosėdų, labai užterštų nikeliu, vidutiniškai užterštų cinku ir variu. Reikšminiai žodžiai: dugno nuosėdos, užterštumas, sunkieji metalai, Klaipėdos uostas, dumblas, smėli

Case Study of the Relationship between Aqua Regia and Real Total Contents of Harmful Trace Elements in Some European Soils

Both real total and aqua regia contents of trace elements in soils are often denominated by the same word “total” though the results are not identical. The formulas would be helpful for recalculation of aqua regia contents to real totals. Data for primary formulas were taken from the International Soil-Analytical Exchange Program of Wageningen Evaluating Programs for Analytical Laboratories. The degree of extractability DE of element in a sample was calculated by weighting the ratios of median contents in aqua regia to median real total contents in different periods with weights proportional to the respective number of determinations. According to descending median values of DE (%) in ISE European soil samples the elements are arranged as follows: Hg(98), Cd(94), Cu(91), Zn(90), Mn(89), Ni(88), Co(86), As(82), Mo(82), Pb(79), V(61), Sn(57), Cr(56), Sb(53), Be(51), B(46), U(35), and Ba(21). These values can be used for approximate recalculation of aqua regia contents to real totals and adjustment of contamination assessment. An attempt to obtain more explicit prediction by fitting regression models and problems related to high leverage and possibly influencial points are discussed and their possible relation to the specificity of soil composition is pointed out

Oil pollution and geochemical hydrocarbon origin markers in sediments of the Curonian Lagoon and the Nemunas River Delta

The continuous research on anthropogenized coastal zones determined qualitative and quantitative characteristics of aliphatic hydrocarbons in the Curonian Lagoon and the Nemunas River Delta. The concentration of aliphatic hydrocarbons varied from 9.1 to 187.6 mu g g(-1) d.w. The Curonian Lagoon could be classi- fied as a slightly contaminated water basin with some moderately polluted areas, while both rivers and Lake Kroku Lanka were found to be slightly contaminated with aliphatic hydrocarbons. The prevailing unresolved complex mixture and geochemical markers suggested the existence of mixed biogenic-anthropogenic aliphatic hydrocarbon sources in the area studied. The biogenic impact was found to be more pronounced in Lake Kroh!. Lanka, the south-eastern part of the Curonian Lagoon and in the River Minija, while the Nemunas River Avan-delta demonstrated the highest loading of anthropogenic hydrocarbons. The same trends were confirmed by the principal component analysis

Quaternary interglacial sediments as possible natural sources of arsenic and molybdenum anomalies In stream sediments In Lithuania

Geochemical investigations were conducted on Quaternary interglacial sediments in order to reveal if they can be a natural source of 10 potentially harmful chemical elements: As, Ba, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, V and Zn. Determination of the total contents of elements in 680 samples was performed by EDXRF analysis. The content of Ni, Cu, Pb, Ba in all analyzed samples was lower than maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) for soil, the content of Zn, V, Cr, Mn exceeded MPC values only in several samples (≤4%). The highest percentage of anomalous samples where MPC was exceeded was characteristic of Mo (21%) and As (12.6%). Therefore, interglacial sediments, especially enriched in organic matter and other sorbents, comprise one of the possible natural sources of Mo and As. It is probable that they contribute to As and Mo anomalies in stream sediments in Lithuania. First published online: 22 Dec 201

Faktai apie gyvenimą Skomantų (Vakarų Lietuva) piliakalnyje ir jo apylinkėse

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