Smalininkų kapinyno kapai ir radiniai

LTKiekvienas miestelis turi savo ilgesnę ar trumpesnę istoriją, kuri pradedama nuo pirmojo paminėjimo istoriniuose dokumentuose. Tačiau tai nereiškia, kad toje vietoje žmonės negyveno dar seniau. Pačius seniausius konkrečios vietovės apgyvendinimo laikus galima atsekti tik remiantis archeologiniais radiniais ir archeologų tyrimais. Smalini¹kuose pats seniausias žmonių apsigyvenimo šioje vietoje įrodymas yra jų laidojimo vieta – Smalini¹kų kapinynas, kuriame atlikti tyrimai leidžia teigti, kad Smalininkų miestelio teritorijoje žmonių tikrai gyventa bent jau nuo IV a.1 Straipsnio tikslas – apibendrinti Smalininkų kapinyne vykdytus archeologinių tyrimų rezultatus, glaustai pristatyti radinius europiniame kontekste. Raktiniai žodžiai: archeologiniai tyrimai, proistorė, tautų kraustymosi laikotarpis, Basonijos tipo karoliai, segės žvaigždine kojele. Anksčiau kapinyno medžiaga platesniame kontekste neanalizuota, tik publikuoti pagrindiniai atliktų kasinėjimų duomenys (Tamulynas, 2007a; Petkus, 2013a; Grikpėdis, Tamulynas, 2014). [Iš leidinio]

ENThe prehistoric cemetery (more precisely – the supposed burial site) in Smalininkai has been known since the beginning of the 20th century. Emil Hollack, the compiler of archaeological map of East Prussia, noted he was aware that a number of cremation graves had been found in the town. The same information had been later repeated by other authors, but up till now the original primary sources are unknown, i.e. what finds made the basis to confirm about the occurrence of prehistoric burial ground. Some archaeological finds Smalininkai had been detected in 1960s, but this information reached archaeologists only in the last decade of the 20th century. In 2005, at the initiative of the author of the present article, information about the site wit artefacts had been collected from local population. In 2006, an explorative archaeological research had been done and the grave no. 1 detected. In 2012, a company performing infrastructure development carried out research that was continued by Vilnius University in 2013. In total, during 3 seasons more than 300 sq. metres were investigated with 6 graves dated 4th–6th centuries discovered and explored; moreover, fragments of the grave no. 7 were found later by excavation repeated.The dead discovered in the Smalininkai cemetery had been inhumed unburned. In some graves, the dead were buried in coffins resting in different directions. The grave no. 4 dated the 5th-6th century contained skeleton of unburned horse (except scull) near the human remains, but relation between the horse and the man’s gave is questionable. The grave goods, such as Basonia type beads, crossbow brooch with a star foot and Jakuszowice type belt end tips indicate that the society that left the Smalininkai cemetery was aware about the fashion and events of faraway European lands. Hook-shaped artefacts made of a rectangular iron bar are of particular note. They seem to be fragments of keys. If his supposition is right, this is a unique find not only in the Nemunas area but also in a wider region. [From the publication p. 2728]

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