Lietuvos archeologija

In 2008–2010 the scientific research project ‘The Development of the Landscape according to the Data of Archaeology and Natural Sciences (ARCHAEOLANDSCAPE)’ was carried out. One of the project’s aims was the reconstruction of the lifestyle models and some ideological features of the communities, and to explore relationships between different types (settlements, burials, etc.) of archaeological sites. This paper presents archaeological evidence from the Kurmaičiai microregion, located N of Kretinga town in the Akmena River basin, and their interpretations. Archaeological surveys and excavations of the microregion started before World War II. They have revealed various archaeological objects of different periods, and some were also found accidentally. This paper focuses on archaeological objects dating back to the Early Iron Age and the Roman Iron Age. The examination of the distribution of archaeological monuments has disclosed certain regularities. Three communities were distinguished in the microregion. They had divided their territories into two dichotomic zones: residential- economical and burial-ritual. These zones were separated by the Akmena River.