Interpreting the East Lithuanian Barrow Culture

Abstract

The article deals with the origin and development of the culture of barrows in Eastern Lithuania (early 3rd – late 13th centuries). The history of this culture provides with examples of social and religious processes, whereas researchers face difficulties while trying to interpret its origin and further development. The emergence of barrows with stone constructions in the Region of Suvalkiai and Eastern Lithuania in the 3rd century is most probably related to the same processes in Polesė and the right bank Mazury (Wielbark Culture territory). The first stage of the barrow culture of Eastern Lithuania (3rd-5th centuries) is characterised by the prevalence of destroyed graves. New social and cultural processes in Eastern Lithuania in the middle of the 5th century are related to significant cultural changes in Western and Central Europe. As some researchers suppose, the custom to burn the deceased could reach Lithuania from the surroundings of Dnieper or other regions inhabited by Eastern Balts. According to the author of the article, this process was not coherent in terms of geography. Some territories had their graves indicating the end of the period of skeletal graves, whereas the graves discovered in other territories marked the beginning of the long period of cremation practices. Archaeologists have discovered quite a number of 5th – 6th century skeleton graves as well as graves of cremated people with rich shrouds and other articles.