Lietuvos archeologija

In this article, the shape of 14th–15th century pottery from Subačiaus Street 11, Vilnius, is analyzed through the application of big data analysis techniques (relational data model, Structured Query Language (SQL), programming language Python, and statistical methods). Two main tasks were carried out as part of this study, namely, the classification of the earliest shapes of pottery found in the potter’s workshop in Vilnius and the implementation of IT methods in the research of archaeological household pottery of Vilnius. A total of 1628 fragments of the upper part of vessels and complete vessels from two middens were analyzed to discern a morphological relationship of assemblages, to assess the diversity of shapes, as well as similarities and differences in techniques used during production. Further tasks include the classification of the shape of rims, profiles, and decorations. Both middens were found to contain pairs of similarly shaped sherds, leading us to conclude that although production was characterized by similar features, they were not identical—possibly due to minor differences in the chronology of the assemblages, different circumstances of artifacts’ deposition in archaeological layers, or because the two middens were used by several craftsmen with a common work experience.

The Daugava River has been one of the most important traffic arteries in the Eastern Baltic region. The establishment of more than 30 hillforts alongside this river reflects the importance of this waterway. Most of these hillforts are understudied. Thus, the bigger picture regarding the hillforts’ inhabitation patterns, chronology, environment, and function(s) remain unknown. As such, the INHILLDAUGAR project seeks to systematically analyze the river’s landscape on a macro scale by combining palaeoenvironmental, archaeological, and linguistic studies. This article presents the genesis of the INHILLDAUGAR project and preliminary results from the 2022 and 2023 field campaigns.

This paper focuses on a unique Nortycken-type bronze battle-axe recently discovered as part of the Late Bronze Age hoard (Br D – Ha A1) at the site Olešná in Southern Bohemia. The battle-axe probably originates from the Eastern Baltic or Northern Poland, where similar artifacts are primarily dated to Period I-III of the Bronze Age. The possible role of this artifact in Southern Bohemia remains in question. The Nortycken-type battle-axe was likely imported over a considerable distance, but there is no evidence of a connection to local Bronze Age elites. The archaeological record does not indicate the presence of such elites in the region of Southern Bohemia (Czech Republic).

Freshwater shells appear repeatedly in animal bone assemblages at Late Bronze Age settlements. This is not only the case in the inland, but also in regions fairly close to the Baltic Sea shore. Significant amounts of freshwater mussels are known especially from Polish and Northeastern German fortified settlements as well as in the Lithuanian lowlands. Several large shell finds from Late Bronze Age fortified settlements in these regions have been published recently, shedding new light on the use of aquatic resources. The majority of the freshwater mussels found belong to the Unio type, whose occurrence is particularly common in contexts of the Lusatian culture. Apparently, these mussels were intentionally selected for certain purposes. However, new excavations in Lithuania show that these selection processes can be observed over a much larger area than previously assumed. This article aims to present a brief overview of freshwater mussel gathering and consumption, analyzing such behavior in a wider context, with a focus on the consumption of mussels by Late Bronze Age communities in specific regions of Northeastern Europe. The significance of mussels as a resource is placed in a larger spatial context based on analogue finds.

Sadly, a great and famous Lithuanian archaeologist, Dr. Rimutė-Jablonskytė Rimantienė, passed away on July 4, 2023, aged 102. Her legacy is defined by an endless love of archaeology and a philosophical attitude, which encourages us to rethink the meaning of archaeology in these troubled times. Rimantienė underwent good and bad phases during her long life.

The main goal of this paper is to publish two fragments of Panathenaic prize amphorae that have been excavated in the northern part of the Roman citadel in Olbia Pontica. Stylistic analysis of both fragments allowed us to date them to the last third of the 6th century BC and to draw the conclusion that they belong to the same amphora manufactured at the time of the Antimenes Painter.

The article is devoted to the results of the research of the fortress Tyagin, built by the Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas on the territory of the island Bolshoye Gorodishche in the late 14th to early 15th century. The archaeological materials provided valuable information about the syncretism of the complex of monuments on the island, the typology, layout and size of the fortress. It was one of the earliest stone castle-type fortresses on the northern Black Sea coast, a part of the defensive line of the southern borders of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The fortress’ defensive system included a synthesis of defensive architectural elements, ranging from timber-engineered structures known from Old Russian times to stone walls and buttresses of a new level of fortification in Europe. The fortress was armed with artillery and edged weapons, the main type being crossbows, which were widespread in Lithuania. The fortress of Tyagin was situated at the crossroads of trade routes between the East and the West, at the crossroads of the custom. The artifacts testify to the presence of Lithuanian cultural objects, Genoese influence, contact with Crimea, and trade and economic relations with Poland. The monument is an integral part of the cultural heritage of Lithuania and Ukraine.