Lietuvos archeologija

The article deals with social relationships as reflected in the Roman Iron Age burial material found in Western Lithuania and the Lower Nemunas area. The burial data are considered at three – regional, cemetery and grave levels. The archaeological material is analysed in terms of both quantity and quality. Socio-economic differentiation is detected by the number of artefact types (NAT) discovered in graves. Quality-wise the main method used is that of grave good combinations where an attempt is being made at identifying grave series in view of different grave good combinations by means of correspondence analysis. Where appropriate, the layout of separate grave clusters in the general spatial development of cemeteries was examined. Consistent examination of Western Lithuanian and Lower Nemunas area cemeteries results in detecting the changes that occurred within Roman Iron Age societies, offers information about how a family position is reflected in mortuary data and suggests relationships between communities.