Lietuvos archeologija

The article presents a reliability assessment of the osteological sex determination of a cremated individual. For this it uses material from 80 cremations from East Lithuanian barrows. The research method is a comparison of the sex of interred individuals as determined osteologically and the gender determined on the basis of grave goods. It is asserted that the minimum reliability of osteological sexing is approximately 70% and that it is probably even as high as about 85%.

The article aims to discuss the chronological phases of the Roman-period cemeteries at Žviliai and Šarkai (Šilalė District) and the artefacts attributed to them as a form of cultural expression during certain periods. L. Vaitkunskienė published material from Žviliai in a separate monograph (Vaitkunskienė, 1999), but unfortunately that scholar’s insights into chronological issues have not received a broader response in academic discussions. This article uses statistical methods to return to the question of dating the Roman period burials in Žviliai Cemetery. Roman-period burial assemblages from Šarkai Cemetery have been added to the database in order to clarify the context of the grave-good types from the earliest group of Žviliai burials, which is less numerous. Artefacts typical of certain phases of these cemeteries are analysed over as broad an area as possible, not just the Balt context. The end of the article discusses the cultural unity and specificity of the communities which left the Žviliai and Šarkai Cemeteries in respect to the neighbouring Balt cultures and more distant areas of the European Barbaricum.

The diversity of imported goods is characteristic of the Prussian burial sites from the H (late pagan) period. The Sambian Peninsula, based on the abundance of artifacts of Old Rus‘ type, can be compared in the Baltic Sea region with the territory of Eastern Latvia. These artifacts are most commonly found in the rich cremation graves of Sambian Prussian warrior-riders, among which are items imported also from the Western Europe, such as bronze vessels, silver coins, and sword blades. An unusual context is the discovery of slate spindle whorls in the Prussian territory, typically found in Sambian cremation graves along with weapons and equestrian equipment.

The article discusses the model of the spread of cremation in the East Lithuanian barrow culture based on the data of radiocarbon dating. It proposes a review of the model established in literature that a wave of cremation spread from the south of the region to the north between the late 4th century AD and of the early 6th century AD. The stage of the earliest cremations can be dated to 248–335 cal AD, and the stage of the latest inhumations to 420–556 cal AD. This suggests that both inhumation and cremation were practised in Eastern Lithuania for about two centuries from the Late Roman period to the Late Migration period. The hypothesis that the practice of cremation spread from south to north is being corrected rather than refuted. While this process was quite sudden, it was due to the spread of a new tradition alongside the old rather than a wave of change regarding burial rites. Cremation spread early (c. 250–400 cal AD) in the northern part of the region and was an established practice alongside inhumation. The practice of cremation probably became prevalent earlier in Southeastern Lithuania. These processes are synchronous with the emergence of the horizon of the burials of chieftains and warriors in Eastern Lithuania, but the determination of an earlier date for this horizon provides grounds for new discussions about its historical, cultural, and social background.