Gedimino sostas

LTPadievaičio piliakalnis prie Kvėdarnos (Šilalės r.) mena ankstyvąją mūsą valstybės istoriją ir kovas su Vokiečių ordinu. Tam pačiam kompleksui priklauso šalia esantis papilys, kelių hektarų plote plytinti senovės gyvenvietė, iki šiol netyrinėtas žemaičių genties kapinynas Padievaityje, lietuvių kariaunai būdingas kapinynas pietiniame Kvėdarnos pakraštyje, dvi brastos per Jūros upę ir, žinoma, akmuo-sostas Druskinio upelio krante. 2020 m. čia surengti archeologiniai tyrimai pranoko lūkesčius: padavimai apie akmenį - Liucipierio Krėslą ir ten veikusią „velnių mokyklą“ - slėpė aukščiausio rango šventvietę, kurios įkūrimą ir naudojimą reikia sieti su XIV a. pradžioje šioje vietovėje minimos Gedimino pilies šeimininku - būsimuoju Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės valdovu. Kitaip negu manyta iki šiol, šventvietė prie Druskinio buvo išgriauta tik XVI ar XVII a., t. y. Kvėdarnoje pastačius bažnyčią. Tada nuverstas akmuo-sostas, matyt, buvo dar kartą pritaikytas šventvietei, o rašytiniai šaltiniai prabyla, kad kvėdarniškiai garbina senovės dievą, vardu Dievaitis. [Iš leidinio]

ENThe Padievaitis at Kvėdarna (Šilalė district) is one of the most interesting monuments of Lithuanian archaeology, mythology, and history studied by archaeologists from Klaipėda University, Gintautas Zabiela and Vykintas Vaitkevičius, in recent years. In 1971, Vytautas Urbanavičius did archaeological research at the Padievaitis stone throne. He concluded that it was one of the oldest sanctuaries known in Lithuania, and it was destroyed in February 1329, along with the castle standing on the Padievaitis mound. In 2020, there was an opportunity to conduct re-investigations at the sacred site of Padievaitis. It was found that the cultural layer, already studied by archaeologists, is 44 to 86 cm thick, but a layer of grey sand, 28 cm thick, has not yet been touched deeper down. In total, there were 11 individual finds, 6158 tiny pieces and shards of pottery, 2272 pieces of animal bones, 377 pieces of iron slag, 256 pieces of clay plaster, which were transferred to Šilalė V. Statkevičius Museum, while osteological material - to Vilnius University Bioarcheology Centre. It was found that the first finds entered the bottom of Druskinis valley in the mid-3rd century-second part of the 4th century AD, from the settlement at the base of the Padievaitis hill-fort. Later, the cultural layer of the settlement from the 4th century-early 5th century was scattered along the slopes of the highlands. As it fell down, stones of various sizes also rolled down near Druskinis.Individual pottery pieces with waves and lines found in the Padievaitis sacred site are characteristic of the 13th-14th centuries. However, unlike previously thought, the stone throne was toppled and placed at its present location and the position in which it is now in 1521-1577 or, most likely, in the period 1624-1670 (this samples code - FTMC-OY-12-4). A three-dimensional image of the stone throne of Padievaitis and its 3D-printed layout allowed certain simulations: when the throne was brought back to its original position, it became clear that the seat part of the throne was 29-30 cm deep, and the middle part was noticeably raised, with a slightly asymmetric 72 cm wide semicircle shape. It is believed that the stone throne stood in the same place as it was discovered but was buried into the earth facing southeast. So, a person sitting in it would have looked to the southeast, toward the settlement in the highlands. At the beginning of the 14th century, the stone throne belonged to the castle that was built in this area by the ruling dynasty, and this place was supposed to become the centre of their power. At that time, the ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vytenis, sent not only his brother Gediminas, whose name was what written sources called the castle of Padievaitis, but many other nobles as well. It is reasonable to assume that while sitting on the throne of Padievaitis, the head of the castle, the local ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Gediminas, took the oaths of fidelity given by the noblemen of Samogitia, perhaps also promulgated orders and verdicts. It cannot be ruled out that the stone throne was not Gediminas but used by his high priest to proclaim the will of the gods, to observe and/or guide rites and rituals. [From the publication]

• Archeologija / Archaeology
• Istorija / History