Lietuvos istorijos institutas

During the Soviet period, Lithuanian archaeologists developed a highly descriptive tradition in Lithuanian archaeology. In post-Soviet Lithuania, archaeologists continue to practice the descriptive tradition and rarely engage in theoretical debates. In order to understand the evolution of the descriptive tradition in Lithuanian archaeology, we provide an evolutionary analysis of current trends in Lithuanian archaeology. The overall goal of the article is to generate discussion between archaeologists about Lithuanian archaeology’s past, present and future.

The article is devoted to the person of Petras Tarasenka (1892–1962) and the history of his most important archaeological work Lietuvos Archeologijos Medžiaga (Lithuanian Archaeological Material) (published in Kaunas, 1928). It presents information about this digest and map of Lithuanian archaeological sites, the course and results of the work’s preparation for publication, and the public’s reaction after its release. It draws the conclusion that Lietuvos Archeologijos Medþiaga is the result of P. Tarasenka’s greatest personal efforts, that his objective was to contribute to the nurturing of the national culture, and that the archaeological map of East Prussia with commentary (published in Berlin, 1908) that was prepared by Emil Hollack (1860–1924) should be considered the work’s prototype.

The article tells about the ‘keen collector’ and amateur archaeologist, Antoni Zaborski, a resident of Pašušvys (Pol. Poszuszwie) (now Kėdainiai District). He had collections of archaeological objects, medals, coins, artwork, weapons, early editions, armour, china, and glass as well as an interesting ethnographic collection and a bibliological collection. A. Zaborski’s unexpected encounter with archaeology and the awareness of his own ignorance in this field persuaded him to seek out people who could help him remedy these shortcomings as well as offer support and expert advice. He corresponded with Erazm Majewski, the best known archaeologist in the Kingdom of Poland, and made many requests for specialist literature, tips, and advice. The texts of these letters are given in the Appendix.

The theory of Indo-Europeanization of the continent can be seen as a focal point in all Marija Gimbutas’s work and in her role in the history of archaeology. This theory has combined various directions of her interests and revealed the theoretical and methodological foundations of her research. This paper recalls the theory itself and its development, as well as its importance for European archaeology. The vicissitudes of this theory, which can be metaphorically described as the triad: reception – rejection – revitalization, illustrate the transformations of archaeology in the second half of the 20th century and in the first decades of the 21st century.

Marija Gimbutas (Gimbutienė) is a renowned archaeologist who specialised in European prehistory. This paper explores her life and work, including her personal biography, showing how her upbringing in Lithuania shaped her academic interests and orientations. This paper also reviews her professional achievements and contributions via the lenses of seven aspects of her academic life, namely her time in higher education, her work on Lithuanian folklore and symbolism, her explorations of Old Europe during the Neolithic, her Kurgan Hypothesis and engagement with Baltic studies, her excavations in southeast Europe, her work on the Goddess, and her symbolism work. It also examines academic and popular reactions to her writing and her influence on scholars and public discourse.