Role of the Curonians in the Eastern Baltic area

Abstract

The article deals with the role of the Curonians in the Eastern Baltic area. Geographical position of Curonian's allow them always to be the intermediates between the west and east Baltic cultures as well as to be mediators in the Baltic Sea zone. A couple of the Southern Curonian sites with miscellaneous material of the 7th century makes some concentration in the area between the middle reaches of the river Danė/Akmena in the South and the river Šventoji in the North. Accordingly archaeological material in the area between the middle reaches of the river Danė/Akmena in the South and the river Šventoji in the North possible to indicate Lazdininkai and Ėgliškiai-Anduliai as two important places or places of power. Both localities have direct and lively connections with the South-Eastern Baltic region, Gotland and central Sweden. Such important places might be distinguishable by workshops with a high level of a craftsmanship tradition, where originate initial unique artefacts manufactured with high artistic skills.