Grūdus bežarstant: ankstyvoji Lietuvos archeobotanikos istorija

LTArcheologinėse vietovėse aptinkamų augalų liekanų tyrimai yra nepaprastai svarbūs gilesniam ir įvairiapusiškesniam praeities bendruomenių pažinimui. Todėl nenuostabu, jog pastaraisiais metais domėjimasis šia sritimi Lietuvos archeologijoje pastebimai išaugo. Nors neretai vis dar pasitaiko nuomonių, jog archeobotanika mūsų krašte yra gana nauja tyrimų kryptis, tačiau detalesnė apžvalga atskleidžia, kad šie tyrimai Lietuvoje turi ilgą istoriją - archeobotaninių tyrimų užuomazgos siekia pačią XX a. pradžią. Vėliau juos intensyviai plėtojo įvairių mokslo šakų, pirmiausia botanikos ir geologijos, specialistai. Tačiau XX a. geopolitinės katastrofos užkirto kelią sparčiai ir nuosekliai šios srities raidai. Ankstyvoji archeobotaninių tyrimų tradicija nebuvo nuosekliai tęsiama ir visapusiškai integruota į archeologijos mokslą. Tai lėmė iki šiol matomą šių mokslo sričių atskirtį, kurios panaikinimas vis dar išlieka aktualia archeologijos mokslo Lietuvoje problema. Reikšminiai žodžiai: archeologijos istorija, botanika, archeobotaniniai tyrimai, makrobotanika, palinologija. [Iš leidinio]

ENThe beginning of the 21st century saw a growing interest in archaeobotanical studies in Lithuanian archaeology. At the same time, it has often given the impression that such analyses are still in the earliest stages of development. However, a further review of the development of Lithuanian archaeobotany shows that the real picture is significantly more complex. The first documented plant remains recovered from archaeological sites in Lithuania were reported at the beginning of the 20th century. They were discovered at several hillfort sites excavated by the archaeologists L. Krzywicki and V. Kashirsky (В. А. Каширский) between 1903 and 1912. However, these finds were accidental, and so no further analyses were conducted. The first researchers to undertake this task were the Polish botanists M. Matlakówna and W. Swed- erski. The results of their analysis of archaeobotanical assemblages from Bubiai, Garbrieliškė (Naukaimis) and Veliuona were published in 1925- Their findings were further discussed by the pioneering Lithuanian archaeobotanist C. von Regel. He presented a short review in the first Lithuanian article on the subject ‘Grain from Lithuanian Hillforts’, and then engaged in the current debate on the origins and spread of various cultural plants. Archaeobotanical studies were later continued by the Lithuanian botanists A. Lideikytė-Šopauskienė and I. Michalska.Their works laid the foundations for the further development of local archaeobotanical studies. Archaeobotanical studies were renewed after the Second World War by the Lithuanian botanist E. Šimkūnaitė, who analysed most of the archaeological plant remains discovered in the postwar era. Geologists O. Kondratienė and M. Kabailienė also joined the field in the 1970s. Both the quantity and the range of analysed sites greatly expanded, and so the plant remains collected during that period account for most of our archaeobotanical collections. The geopolitical climate greatly hindered the development of Lithuanian archaeobotanical studies. The interwar and postwar theoretical schools did not achieve direct continuity. This resulted in archaeobotany being a less significant secondary field, detached from Lithuanian archaeology. It also limited our ability to explore archaeobotanical material, and impeded attempts to advance the subject. Nonetheless, the legacy of former generations of Lithuanian archaeobotanists presents a strong basis for the complete integration of plant studies into current research. Keywords: history of archaeology, botany, archaeobotany, macrobotany, palynology. [From the publication]

• Archeologija / Archaeology
• Istorija / History