Lietuvos istorijos institutas

The article presents the results of a metallographic, mechanical properties, and elemental analysis of iron artefacts from Marvelë cemetery. Finds from 3rd–5th-century inhumations excavated in 2006: axes (3 examples), spearheads (4), knifes (2), and a buckle as well as metallurgical slag, clinkers, and iron droplets found in the vicinity were used for the analysis. Ordinary methodology was used for the analysis, thus the results are comparable with those from other sites. The metallographic analysis determined that a varying hardness was achieved in manufacturing the different parts of the artefacts. The axes were forged from two separate pieces of iron, the spearheads and knifes from one. The chemical composition of the artefacts is similar to that of artefacts from other Lithuanian archaeological sites; nevertheless some differences exist, which presupposes the idea of the non-local origin of some artefacts.

The article is devoted to a discussion of the results of research conducted in implementing the ‘Archaeolandscape’ project in the Jakšiškis microregion. The research was conducted in the vicinity of one of the largest Lithuanian barrow group, the Jakšiškis and Knitiškiai barrow cemeteries. The most important objective during the project was the search for the settlements of the communities that left them and a series of related questions: what size was the settlement, how intense was its life, what was the nature of the activities in it, and what was its relationship with the nearby sites. An attempt was made to answer these questions using tradition archaeological methods and the spot test.