Archaeologia Lituana
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VIII–XI a. kuršių vyrų ir moterų papuošalai – pasaulio modeliai
Get PDFIn 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
Archeologija Vilniaus universitete
Get PDFSeveral stages distinctly stand out in Lithuania in the development of University-level archaeological study. The first stage was in 1919–1940 with the first efforts to teach and prepare specialists. The second stage occurred in 1944–1990 during the period of soviet occupation, when the Archaeology department was opened with limited breakes and specialists were trained. The third stage began in 1990, when the Archaeology department was rehabilitated, a systematic preparation of archaeologists was begun, and a separate speciality formed
Baitų kapinyno dviejų kapų chronologijos klausimu
Get PDFThe article discusses artefacts from two women’s graves relatively well-endowed with funerary goods that were excavated at Baitai (Klaipėda District) in 1991. This burial ground belongs to the Western-Lithuanian-stone-circle graves’ culture. Research carried out in 1989–1991, 1993 and 1995 have revealed material from the second half of the Old Iron Age (the “Roman Period”). Excavations continue, but there remains insufficient evidence to clarify the site’s whole chronology and therefore, this article compares two Baitai women’s graves (see ill. 1, 2) with each other and with material from other sites in Western Lithuania.In Baitai women’s graves 8 and 18 and other women’s graves from western Lithuania we find artefacts which are numbered hever in an order particular to this text. This article compares Baitai 8 and 18 with Šernai 10 and 22, Bandužiai 85, Lumpėnai 14, which in addition other common artefacts include iron bell-shaped pendants among their gravegoods. The following artefacts and their chronology are discussed here: hats decorated with studs and hooked pendants, and headbands; necklaces with spiral terminals; necklaces with amber, glass beads and iron bell-shaped pendants; rosette pins or brooches with profiled studs and concentric strands; large cross-bow brooches with a bent foot and small rings (or not); smaller cross-bow brooches with a bent foot and slightly protruding bows; a cross-bow brooch with a rhomboid foot; spiral bracelets typical of the Klaipėda district; bracelets with slightly thickened terminals; rings with a flattened rhomboid front part; rings with overlapping terminals. Although there is not doubt that we must research and compare Baitai gravegoods more deeply, the Author is inclined at present to date Baitai 8 and 18 to the C3 Period (A.D. 300–350 and later)
Chronologia grobów z bronią odkrytych na cmentarzysku kultury bogaczewskiej z okresu wpłyów rzymskich i wędrówek ludów w Paprotkach Kolonii, stan. 1, w Krainie Wielkich Jezior Mazurskich
Get PDFPaprotkų Kolonijos (Suvalkų vaivadija, Milkų gmina) kapinynas, aptiktas 1983 metais, yra Didžiųjų Mozūrų ežerų krašto pietinėje dalyje. Archeologiniai tyrinėjimai buvo pradėti 1991 metais. Per penkis sezonus surasti 192 kapai ir deginimo vietos, esančios pietinėje ir pietrytinėje kapinyno dalyje (II pav.). Remiantis tyrinėjimų duomenimis, kapinynas buvo naudojamas nuo vėlyvojo iki romėniškojo laikotarpio pabaigos arba ankstyvojo romėniškojo laikotarpio pradžios iki tautų kraustymosi laikotarpio E periodo imtinai.Ginkluotė Paprotkų Kolonijos kapinyne sudaro septynias senienų kategorijas – skydų dalys – du umbai, viena rankena ir dešimt apkalų – vinių, dešimt ietigalių be užbarzdų ir dešimt strėlių antgalių, taip pat pavienis kirvis ir kovos peiliai, kartais kartu su makštimis. Atsižvelgiant į labai dažnus literatūroje nesutarimus dėl kovos peilių paskirties, analizuojant šią senienų kategoriją, apžvelgti visi peiliai. Iš viso išnagrinėta 20 kapų kompleksų ir 6 atsitiktiniai radiniai, aptikti įvairiose kapinyno vietose (II pav.).Iš dvidešimt analizuotų kapų penkis galima priskirti ankstyvajam romėniškajam laikotarpiui. Kapinyno naudojimo pradžiai priskirtinas kapas Nr. 33, datuojamas periodu A3–B1. Likę keturi kapai skirtini periodui B2:10B(?), 100, 126A ir 163. Brandžiam B2 periodui bei pereinamajam laikui tarp ankstyvojo ir vėlyvojo romėniškojo laikotarpio priskirtini kiti kapai: Nr. 49 ir 139. Daugiausia kapų skirtini pereinamam periodui tarp ankstyvojo ir vėlyvojo romėniškojo laikotarpio – 44, 67, 72, 94, 107–108, bei vėlyvojo romėniškojo laikotarpio pradžiai – 25, 71, 130, 143. Tuo tarpu trys kapai, datuojami vėlyvuoju romėniškuoju laikotarpiu, priklauso arba jo ankstyvajam periodui – kapai 99, 160, arba jų chronologiniai rėmai gana platūs – apima C2 periodo pradžią – kapas 7C. Neturint pakankamai duomenų tiksliai chronologijai, vieną kapą – Nr. 140 – reikia datuoti visu kapinyno egzistavimo laikotarpiu, t. y. nuo periodo A3 – B1 iki E imtinai. Daug apimančiais chronologiniais rėmais reikia datuoti ir visus radinius, surastus ne kapų kompleksuose.Paprotkų Kolonijos kapinyno ginklai yra interregioniniai – ietigaliai, skydų dalys, taip pat ir charakteringi tik vakarų baltų ginkluotei – įtveriamieji strėlių antgaliai, kirvis, kovos peiliai. Išskiriant paskutinę grupę ginklų, atkreiptas dėmesys į šiuos požymius: ašmenys, ilgesni kaip 10 cm, masyvios proporcijos, ašmenų ornamentika, susidedanti iš interregioninių elementų, ir dažnai nėra intensyvaus jų naudojimo pėdsakų
Балтийский акцент в движении викингов (этнические диффузии и традиции искусства)
Get PDFIX–XI amžių vikingų žygiai buvo paskutinis iki valstybinės epochos Europos civilizacijos sukrėtimas. Senovės skandinavų terminas “i vikingu” reiškė “būti žygyje” už tėvynės ribų. Vikingų judėjimo pagrindu laikomas Vendelio laikotarpiu Skandinavijoje kilusios ekonominės ir socialinės problemos. Vikingų žygių periodizaciją rusų istoriografijoje pateikė G. S. Lebedevas. Anot šio tyrinėtojo, 793–891 metais vyko stichinis vikingų kariaunų susikūrimas. Antrasis etapas – 890–980 metai, kai Skandinavijoje ir Rytų Europoje susikuria valstybiniai junginiai priklausantys kunigaikščio (karaliaus) valdžiai, palaikomai kariaunos. 890–1066 metai – tai vikingų žygių pabaiga (karališkųjų kariaunų pergalė prieš laisvųjų karių vikingų būrius).Iki šiol manyta, kad Rytų kelias, ėjęs Dnepro ir Volgos upėmis, naudotas nuo IX amžiaus. Šio prekybos kelio stabilizacija įkvepė gyvenimui Senosios Rusios valstybę, įkurtą su skandinavų vikingų pagalba.Iš tikrųjų kelias Volgos upe tarp Europos Šiaurės ir Pietryčių buvo naudojamas jau vėlyvuoju bronzos amžiaus laikotarpiu. Dnepro kelias 200–300 metais buvo aktyviai naudojamas gotų-gepidų, įsitraukusių į gintaro prekybą. Jų veikIos rezultatas etninė-kultūrinė difuzija, įvykusi tarp Rytų Baltijos salų ir baltų arealo V–VIII amžiuje. Tai matyti iš daugelio baltiškos kilmės moteriškų įkapių Gotlande ir Bornholme, skandinaviški daiktai pažymi prūsų ir kuršių kariaunų moterų kapus. Šį reiškinį skatino rytinio Baltijos pakraščio genčių kultūrinis socialinis bendrumas. Ir atvirkščiai, vakarinėje Šiaurės Europos dalyje skandinavų ir Europos žemyno tautos buvo išskirtos ne tik kultūrinių, bet ir religiniųideologinių skirtybių. Tai vėliau sukėlė vikingų epochos kruvinąją aušrą Anglijoje ir Prancūzijoje.Rytuose jūros pakraščių gyventojų įsiskverbimas gilyn į žemyną priklausė pirmiausia nuo prekybos poreikių. Kaip anksčiau gotai-gepidai, VIII amžiuje prūsai (vėliau – giminingi jiems Gotlando gyventojai) per Suomių įlanką mėgino išplėsti prekybą gintaru Rytų prekybos keliu. X amžiaus pradžioje rytinėje Baltijos pakrantėje buvo sukurta pirklių ir vikingų judėjimo paramos struktūra – proto-miestai. Santykiškai taikus vikingų judėjimas Rytų Europoje lėmė daugianacionalinės Senosios Rusios valstybės susidarymą. Kaip ir velesnė Lietuvos valstybė, Rusia tapo unikaliu Europos valstybiniu junginiu, sukurtu pagoniškosios civilizacijos vertybių pagrindu.Didelė šių vertybių sudėtinė dalis buvo dekoratyvinis menas, jungęs Baltijos rytuose daugelį artimų kultūriniu-socialiniu lygiu tautų. Manytume, labiausiai šią dvasinę vienybę atspindi “Vilko danties stilius”, susiformavęs VII amžiuje daugianacionalinėje prūsų kariaunos aplinkoje ir paplitęs iki XI amžiaus didžiulėje teritorijoje tarp Danijos ir Jaroslavlio Pavolgio. Jam būdinga daikto plokštuma, perimetre dengiama trikampiu spaudu. Tai buvo universalus daugelio genčių, kariaunų junginių ir pirklių kolektyvų stilius, atspindintis vikingų judėjimo Rytuose tikrąjį pobūdį. Čia susiklosčiusi etnokultūrinė padėtis lėmė pakankamai taikų vikingų judėjimo pobūdį Rytų Baltijos regione ir slavų bei finougrų arealų viduje
W. Nowakowski. Das Samiand in der römischen Kaiserzeit und seine Verbindungen mit dem römischen Reich und der barbarischen Welt; Veröffentlichung des Vorgeschichtlichen Seminars Marburg. Sonderband 10. (bearb. und hrsg. von C. von Carnap-Bornheim). Marburg–Warszawa, 1996.
Get PDFPerpetės baltų kraštuose I tūkstantmečio viduryje
Get PDFResearch of the burial monuments of the mid-first millenium A.D. has lately produced substantially more data on Baltictype shoulder-straps which have not yet been widely described in the archeological literature. Although shoulder-straps were worn quite often and extensively in the old times, they are difficult to identify during archeological research. The design and the wearing style of these shoulder-straps is not clear. A belt put over the shoulder could be warn without a belt buckle. Therefore, such shoulder-straps were usually destroyed and could not be recorded archeologically. Archeologists often find just single belt buckles by the right shoulder of a body.The present article deals with only the most adorned and the most complicated type of shoulder-straps, i.e. shoulder-straps with an adornment on the front side which widens downwards and is made up of separate plates in the form of cones, rectangles, squares or trapezium, and a nozzle. Their origin and a more exact date has not been fully identified. All shoulder straps are different and made using different technology, style and ornaments.Shoulder-straps and battle knives-daggers are most often not found in their original places. However, during the exploration of grave No. 23 in the burial ground of Vidgiriai, the shoulder-strap was found in its original place. This made it possible to identify its purpose and wearing style. One more stimulus to gather data on them was a tendency observed in the article on sharp battle knives-daggers (V. Šimėnas, 1996) to put a battle knife-dagger along with a shoulder-strap into the grave; in those graves other shrouds of the same kind were found.Accumulation of these materials involved reviewing Lithuanian, Latvian and East Prussian archeological literature and archives of the main museums. Shoulder-straps have already caught the attention of museum experts and restorators. We have no doubts that shoulder-straps will be repeatedly investigated in various aspects in the future. This especially applies to their production technologies, jewelry making techniques and ornamentation. By 1995, four shoulder-straps had been preserved and reconstructed in Lithuania: from grave No. 23 of Vidgiriai, from grave No. 312 and No. 337 of Marvele, and from grave No. 50 of Plinkaigalis. The preservation and reconstruction of all above-said shoulder-straps was performed by G. Gleiznienė.The catalogue on shoulder-straps includes descriptions of 15 shoulder-straps from 7 burial grounds, sets of finds from the graves in which they were found as well as information on their preservation and restoration. The purpose of 8 more finds and the circumstances in which they were found are not quite clear, therefore, they are only mentioned in the article.It becomes evident from the catalogue that the design of individual shoulder-straps is similar but, nevertheless, has significant differences. The comparison of the shoulder-straps shows that each of them differs in its measurements, ornamentation or technological features. They are obviously done by different craftsmen and on individual orders.Shoulder-straps with numerous adornments are found only in the graves of well-off and rich male warriors. All the shoulder-straps discussed here were found together with a few pieces of jewelry which are easy to date. Table No. 3 contains all known sets of shrouds with shoulder-straps. The main task is to determine extreme limits for dating this group of items. Research has shown that shoulder straps could first appear at the turn of the C3-D period or at the end of the 4th century or the beginning of the 5th century. According to the shroud sets, the earliest shoulder-straps can be identified as those from grave No. 13 of Kalniškiai and No. 47 and No. 56 from Žviliai grave. Chronological research shows that shoulder-straps were worn for a very short period of time, i.e. until the middle of the 6th century. This way, their dating has been made more accurate and detailed and they could become good chronological indicators. It is already becoming evident that the emergence of shoulder-straps could he dated to a later period and be linked with the emergence of a whole complex of new technologies.While charting places where shoulder-straps have been found, it becomes clear that they were common in a clearly defined area. This makes it possible to say that they most probably reflect certain ethnic processes. The map shows that shoulder-straps, like sharp battle knives-daggers are found by the Lithuanian seaside, by the River Nemunas up to the town of Kaunas, in the basin of the Nevėžis river and in the peninsula of Semland. These lands are situated closer to waterways (the see, the lagoon and the River Nemunas). There are no such shoulder-straps in Latvia and Northern and Eastern Lithuania and North East Poland.The issue of the emergence and origin of shoulder straps is rather problematic. Some researchers say that they are a local product, others believe that they were imported. In Western European archeological literature, opinion that shoulder-straps were an element of the armaments in the barbarian world most often prevails. Shoulder-straps could have originated on the border of the Barbarian and Roman Empire where barbarian and Roman elements of armaments clashed. The most probable region of this influence is the middle reaches of the River Danube and the coast of the Black Sea. The shoulder-straps discussed in the article must have originated locally, however their making technologies do not have local roots.Shoulder-straps can tell a lot about the social status of the people who we wearing them. Researchers have noticed that they are usually found in the graves of very rich horsemen warriors. Sets of shrouds show that these graves contain a lot of weapons and jewelry with the amplitude of silver items being the most prominent feature
Dėl E tipo ietigalių ornamentuotomis įmovomis chronologijos ir kilmės
Get PDFWeapons have always been in the focus of attention of European archaeologists. As early as the beginning of 20th century several monographs were written which haven’t yet lost their importance and may be renderred among the classics of archaeological science. However, it must be admitted that the number of studies devoted to the most abounding type of weapons of the Iron Age – spears – is still insufficient. This is especially true about the spearheads found in the territory occupied by Baltic tribes. Investigators of Baltic tribes archaeology cannot boast of capital works or somewhat more exhaustive studies on spears. Only a few articles and chapters of some generalizing works are known which, however, are too short and abstract to satisfy the researchers specializing in certain types of weapons.This article devoted to a particular purpose: to discuss the problems of chronology and origin of E type (according to J. Petersen) spearheads with ornamented sockets from the Viking period.Two subtypes of E – type spearheads are found in the Baltic archaeological sites from the Viking period. Some of them have ornamented other ones – plain (without ornaments) sockets (Fig. 1). The ornament is composed of grooves arranged along the socket into arched lines which are brought together into one spot near the blade. On the opposite end these grooves form several arches (Fig. 2). This ornament is differently called by various authors: arched, Gothic, flame-shaped. It, presumably, serves only as a decoration and is not related with manufacturing technologies.Spearheads without decorated sockets make the absolute majority, whereas, those with arched-line ornament belongs to rarer finds. According to the available data 56 such spearheads were found in 26 archaeological sites (Fig. 3). Taking into consideration the present state and administrative boundaries 34 items were found in Lithuania, 6 – in Latvia and 16 E – type spearheads with decorated sockets found in the territory of former East Prussia. The given number might be not precise because it is difficult to count the finds from the East Prussia due to the lack of reliable data: records and literature. The largest number of such weapons – 14 – was uncovered in the Kaup bei Wiskiauten barrow cemetery. In other archaeological sites they were sparser: 5 spearheads in 4 graves of Upyna burial ground (Šilalė district), 4 – in Kretuonys barrow cemetery (Švenčionys district) (Fig. 9), 3 – in the Kapiņu Kristapēni burial ground (Preiladistrict), 2 spearheads in each were found in the Čiobiškis (Širvintos district) barrow cemetery, Marvelė (Kaunas) and Palanga burial grounds. It was a rare case when the Rupunionys (Kaunas district) hoards of weapons yielded two E – type spearheads with ornamented sockets (Fig. 4). In other Baltic archaeological sites such spearheads were uncovered isolated (Fig. 11) or stray finds (Fig. 5). The find spots of some other spearheads are not known.Not only ornaments but other weapons as well, uncovered in the same graves, are important in determining the chronology of E – type spearheads. These weapons include 196 swords, other types of spears, shield bosses and battle knives (1, 2 Tables). E – type spearheads with sockets decorated in arched-line ornament were found together with swords in 14 graves (Table 1). The H – type swords – found in 4 cases – were the most frequent finds. They were followed by V – type swords – in 3 graves – and swords of types B, E, K, M, Y, X – one find of each type. The B type sword is one of the earliest types of swords in the Viking period. It was found together with the discussed type of spearhead in grave No 124 (195) of Laiviai (Kretinga district) burial ground. In the Baltic territories these swords are dated to the end of 18th–9th C. A. D.Grave No 151a of Kaup bei Wiskiauten barrow cemetery which yielded a K – type sword with other artefacts (Fig. 6) is dated to the middle of 9th century. Graves from the 9th–10th centuries yielded also H, M, and Y types of swords. The latest E – type spearheads with ornamented sockets were uncovered in Kaup bei Wiskiauten and Palanga together with V and X types of swords and other artefacts (Fig. 7, 8).Among the ornaments which help to date the sets o(finds including the E – type socketed spearheads the most frequent are brooches: penannular with rolled, quadrangle and faceted terminals, sometimes ladder and cross-bow brooches with popy-head terminals, in rare cases – tortoise-shaped. “Warrior’s” bracelets serve as a good chronological indicator as well (Fig. 10).Thus, the archaeological material indicates that E – type socketed spearheads were included in the Baltic weaponry within the years 800–1050. At the beginning of 11th century such spearheads were rare exceptions.As to the origin of the E – type spearheads in the areas occupied by Balts there is an almost common oppinion that they came from Scandinavian lands where they were rather popular. Such oppinion is substantiated by archaeological data and circumstances of uncovering of these weapons. They prove that manufacturing centres of such weapons were situated in Scandinavia.As all imported weapons the E – type spearheads were very expensive and they did not play the role of “democratic” weapon in the Baltic weaponry. Not all members of society armed with such spearheads. They were possessed only by well-armed warriours. The statistical average of the set of weapons revealed that warriours possessing the E – type spearheads were also armed with a sword and another spear. Thus, we may conclude that E – type spearheads, as also swords, were included into the weaponry of professional warriours, i.e., persons who belonged to nobility