II Pasaulinio karo belaisvių kapavietė Macikuose

LT2021 m. Macikų kaime (Šilutės r., Šilutės sen.), H. Zudermano gatvėje saugomoje Macikų nacistinės Vokietijos karo belaisvių stovyklos ir Tarybų Sąjungos Gulago lagerio objektų komplekso (UK 17035) teritorijoje vykdyti detalieji tyrimai. Šiuos darbus užsakė Šilutės rajono savivaldybės administracija, vadovaudamasi Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės patvirtintu Macikų nacistinės Vokietijos karo belaisvių stovyklos ir Tarybų Sąjungos Gulago lagerio (toliau – Macikų lageriai) objektų komplekso (1941–1955 m.) sutvarkymo koncepcijos ir jos įgyvendinimo 2019–2024 m. veiksmų planu. Tyrimus vykdė 3 institucijos: KVGT, MB „Arksaika“ ir KVP, antropologinius tyrimus atliko tyrimų vadovė. Tyrimų tikslas buvo nustatyti palaidojimų teritorijų ribas, laidojimo pobūdį, tikėtiną kapų ir eilių skaičių, palaikų orientaciją, palaidojimo gylį. Pasirinktinai atidengus palaikus siekta nustatyti tikėtiną palaidojimo laikotarpį, jei bus pakankamai įrodymų – galimą tautinę priklausomybę. Antropologiniai tyrimai atlikti in situ, neiškeliant palaikų, nustatant tikėtiną mirties priežastį, lytį, amžių, patologijas ir traumas. [...]. [Iš teksto, p. 549]

ENIn 2021, an excavation was carried out in areas I–III of the cemetery of the former WWII POW camp and post-war labour camp in Macikai (Šilutė district in western Lithuania), consisting of 15 trenches measuring 557.5 m2. The territory designated as area I was 2,700 m2 in total, and the total excavated area was 380.5 m2. The total excavated area contained 102 individual burials oriented in the NW–SE direction, with heads facing NW. Trenches 1–3 and 5–8 contained 23 burials, encountered at a depth of 50–97 cm. The deceased were buried individually, and some had limbs adjusted. The bodies were those of adult males, exhibiting some anatomical variations and both treated and untreated dental disease. No evidence of death caused by trauma was noted. Stalag 331 I C Heydekrug POW tags were found on 47.8 % of the deceased. Additionally, some buttons from uniforms or undergarments were found, and one of the buttons depicted a star with a hammer and sickle. These finds helped to more accurately determine the size of the cemetery of Stalag 331 POW camp in 1941–1942, i.e., they helped to determine that the site measured around 79 x 3–47 m (2,220 m2). The excavation in area II (2,500 m2) covered 157 m2. Trench 9 revealed 10 graves arranged in a single row on a NE–SW axis. The graves contained 10 individual burials of adult males, limbs adjusted, bodies oriented in the NE–SW direction, and heads facing SE. The bodies bore no signs of trauma or pathologies, but the occurrence of both treated and untreated dental disease was noted. One identified cause of death was an abdominal injury. Associated finds include a US soldier ID tag, a golden US pilot ring, an Orthodox medal, uniform shreds, and buttons. The cemetery was used for the burial of POWs captured by the German forces, 3 of which were US pilots imprisoned in the Luft VI camp, and one Canadian Air Force pilot (see the following article).In conclusion, a 24 x 11 m area (264 m2) was identified as the cemetery of the Luftlag VI POW camp in 1943–1944. Of the 225 m2 designated as area III, a 20 m2 area was excavated, but no graves were found. The anomalies identified in the survey 2019 were likely the result of local mineral build-up in the soil. Human remains and associated finds unearthed during the excavation were recorded, and the area was then backfilled. [From the publication]