Eastern Lithuanian tumulus culture

The East Lithuanian tumulus culture (Lithuanian Rytų Lietuvos pilkapių kultūra ) was an archaeological culture of the Iron Age and the early Middle Ages from the 4th to 13th centuries in what is now eastern Lithuania and northwestern Belarus .

Distribution area

The East Baltic tumulus culture extended from the middle Memel in the west, the upper Šventoji in the north, the Swirsee in the east and Merkys and Vilija in the south.

Emergence

It emerged in the 5th century from the ceramic line culture under the influence of carriers of the neighboring Dnieper-Dvina culture , the Sudauer culture and the Wielbark culture .

Barrows

Barrows have appeared in the area since the 4th century. About 6000 burial mounds are known in Lithuania today. A distinction is made between 230 different types, 80 in Belarus . The corpse was burnt .

In an early phase (4th – 5th centuries) agricultural implements were mainly grave goods, in a later phase (5th – 8th centuries) a large number of weapons and similar items were used. a. in men's graves and jewelry ( chokers ) in women's graves. From the 8th century burials with horses also took place (see West Baltic culture ).

The End

The East Baltic barrow culture ended in the 13th century, probably in connection with the Christianization of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania . Burials now took place in grave fields.

literature

• City and Cultural History Museum Duisburg: Archaeological Treasures from Lithuania , 1992
• Marija Gimbutas: The Balts . Munich 1983