Lietuvos archeologija

The first osseous finds discovered in the village of Šarnelė in the 20th century during the straightening of the Varduva riverbed, and the site that was later excavated by archaeologists here, have been mentioned in the archaeological literature several times, highlighting the history and circumstances of these discoveries and categorising the artefacts into types. This paper presents the latest research on the six stray bone and antler artefacts found in the Šarnelė village between 1940 and 1965 during the dredging of the Varduva riverbed. Investigations of these artefacts, which began in 2016, have shown that the environment of the former Lake Ertenis is likely to have been visited by humans since the Final Palaeolithic and Mesolithic, but artefacts associated with the Subneolithic and Bronze Age are also present. Recent research on these finds has been initiated within the framework of projects funded by the Lithuanian Research Council, which have refined the chronology of the artefacts using AMS 14C dating and the identification of the animal species according to ZooMS. Elements of their typological and decorative features have also been discussed. Although some results have already been published, this study presents all of the available research on the stray osseous finds from Šarnelė.

This article examines 22 metal artefacts from Lithuania dated to the Bronze and Pre-Roman Iron Ages (2nd–1st millennium BC). Most were found either accidentally or through metal detecting, while some were uncovered during archaeological investigations. Additionally, archaeological excavations were conducted at three sites where Early Bronze Age axes have previously been found. This article presents the results of these investigations, alongside an analysis of the typology, chronology, and distribution of the newly discovered Bronze Age artefacts. Additionally, a comprehensive contextual analysis was carried out on all 368 metal artefacts that date from this period in Lithuania. The analysis draws on data concerning find contexts, surrounding environmental features, archival records, and associations with other contemporary archaeological sites. The study proposes the hypothesis that some stray bronze artefacts may be interpreted as hoards, either as votive deposits or as intentionally concealed items.

The fortified settlement phase marks one of the key stages in the development of hillforts in Lithuania, spanning c. 1000 BC–200 AD. In the Eastern Baltic, northeastern Lithuania stands out for its dense network of fortified settlements, reflecting a deliberate shift towards strategically safer residential settings. This article presents data from archaeological investigations conducted in 2016–2021 at the Antilgė, Garniai 1, and Mineikiškės hillforts. It examines the topography, structures, and assemblages of the sites, before turning to their chronology and regional significance. The results emphasise how short-lived fortified settlements in northeastern Lithuania illuminate regional particularities and community strategies, from choices of topography to patterns of craft, defence, and exchange. This perspective enables a fresh reassessment of the fortified settlement phase, situating it as a distinct yet interconnected phenomenon within the wider Eastern Baltic.

This article examines combs dated to the 3rd–12th centuries AD from the present-day territory of Lithuania. Based on typologies developed by foreign researchers, the combs are classified into groups, subgroups, and types. Their distribution, the chronological range of specific types, and the materials used in their manufacture are analyzed. Currently, 35 combs, including fragments and one unfinished blank, are known from Lithuania. All major comb groups characteristic of other regions of Central, Northern, and Eastern Europe are represented—both simple and composite types, including single-sided and double-sided variants. In terms of manufacturing techniques and decorative features, the Lithuanian finds largely correspond to those of neighboring regions. Two local types are distinguished: simple combs with a semicircular back and outward-curving teeth, dated to the 2nd half of the 1st millennium AD and found in parts of the Daugava River basin; and singlesided composite combs with a copper alloy handle and sheath, dated the 6th century AD and localized in the lower Nemunas region. Chronologically, the majority of combs from the Lithuanian territory date to the 9th–12th centuries AD. During this period, short, single-sided composite combs predominated. Laboratory analysis of 15 combs revealed that most were made of antler rather than bone, and two wooden combs were also identified.

This article presents archaeological research into the line of fortifications erected in the northern Black Sea region during the time of Vytautas, Grand Duke of Lithuania. A comparative analysis of the planning structure and design features of several fortresses from the late 14th–15th centuries is presented, featuring stone tower-type castles characteristic of the early stages of artillery development. The distinctive traits of each fortress, as well as their common features, are also identified.

Research on manors is not a new phenomenon in Lithuanian historiography. The formation of manor estates and landholdings in Lithuania has mostly been analyzed from the historical, economic, architectural, art-historical, and heritage conservation perspectives. These studies can be complemented by archaeological material, which has been significantly accumulated over the past three decades, but the importance of which in the study of manor development has not been sufficiently acknowledged. More intensive archaeological research on manors began only in the 1990s. During this period, exploratory surveys were particularly common, gathering initial information about the state of preservation of manor estates, dating them, and defining protected areas. Over the past two decades, the number of archaeological investigations conducted at manor sites has grown significantly. As of 2023, more than 200 manor estates and manor sites in Lithuania have undergone archaeological research. The best-studied sites include the manors and manor locations of Anykščiai, Dubingiai, Kairėnai, Kelmė, Kretinga, Kurtuvėnai, Mantagailiškis, Plungė, Rietavas, Rokiškis, Siesikai, Skaruliai, Stabatiškė, and Šiauliai. The archaeological research material from Lithuanian manor estates has been only sparsely published in detail, and comprehensive works summarizing the collected data are still lacking. This article aims to review the archaeological investigations of manor estates and manor sites carried out in Lithuania, examining their dynamics and scope.

Adolfas Tautavičius (1925–2006) served for a quarter of a century as the head of the Archaeology Sector of the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the Lithuanian SSR (1962–1987). This was the most important archaeological position in Soviet Lithuania, allowing him to shape the development of archaeological research. The article examines A. Tautavičius’s scientific activities within the Archaeology Sector. These included administrative work, preparation of scientific output (field investigations, preparation of publications, conferences, pedagogical activities), and personal pursuits in archaeology (collecting a bibliography of Lithuanian archaeology). The reasons behind Tautavičius’s rise to and departure from this position are revealed, as well as the factors that allowed him to remain in it for such a long time.