The Archival materials of amateur archaeologists active in Lithuania - in the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw

LTStraipsnyje yra analizuojama Lietuvoje dirbusių archeologų mėgėjų Michało Eustachy Brensztejno, Marijos Butrymównos, Wandalino Szukiewicziaus, Juliano Talko-Hrynciewicziaus ir Antonio Zaborskio archyvinė medžiaga, saugoma Varšuvos valstybiniame archeologijos muziejuje. Didžiausią dokumentacijos dalį sudaro Erazmo Majewskio (1858 – 1922), kuris turėjo privatų archeologijos muziejų, gauti laiškai, rašyti minėtų archeologų mėgėjų. Ypatingą vertę turi neskelbti dokumentai, kurie padeda pažinti archeologijos istoriją, suvokti XIX a. pabaigos – XX a. pradžios archeologijos mokslo raidą. Michało Eustachy Brensztejno, Marijos Butrymównos, Wandalino Szukiewicziaus, Juliano Talko-Hrynciewicziaus ir Antonio Zaborskio archyvinę medžiagą sudaro įvairių Lietuvos vietovių archeologiniai aprašymai, publikacijos, archeologinių radinių kolekcijų aprašymai, informacija apie kitų šalių archeologinę medžiagą, archeologinių vietų planai, informacija apie archeologinių radinių konservavimą ir kt.Reikšminiai žodžiai: Archeologijos mokslo istorija; Archeologiniai radiniai; Muziejai; History of archaeology; Archaeological findings; Museums; Archyviniai duomenys; Archeologai mėgėjai; Erazmas Majevskis; Valstybinis Varšuvos archeologijos muziejus; Archival materials; Archaeologist amateurs; Erazm Majweski; State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw.

ENThe Documentations Department of the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw has in its keeping papers of Michał Eustachy Brensztejn, Maria Butrymówna, Wandalin Szukiewicz, Julian Talko-Hryncewicz and Antoni Zaborski. Of these the largest category are letters received by Erazm Majewski (1858-1922) in the period 1897-1910 which are now a part of Majewski's legacy. They document exchange and cooperation of their authors with Majewski in the field of archaeology and ethnography. Erazm Majewski was a known Warsaw industrialist and one of the leading intellectuals of Warsaw. His interests included entomology, ethnology, archaeology, economy and sociology. Majewski made a major contribution to the protection of archaeological heritage; he collected artefacts in his private Archaeological Museum; his collections included artefacts received by Majewski from Polish amateur prehistorians who were active in Lithuania. Majewski laid down scientific foundations for the development of prehistoric archaeology in Poland. In his day, he was an authority on methods of archaeological excavation and of conservation of archaeological objects. Michał Eustachy Brensztejn (1874-1938) amateur archaeologist and ethnographer, collector, archivist historian, librarian of the University Library in Wilnius, keeper of the Museum of the Wilnius Friends of Sciences Society. The archival material includes letters, a bound manuscript of Brensztejn's work from 1907 - an Archaeological Inventory of Province of Kaunas, containing 192 bound sheets. To this Brensztejn added 11 further unbound sheets, containing an introduction written by Wandalin Szukiewicz. These papers were purchased from Brensztejn in July 1926 by the Polish State Prehistoric Monuments Conservation Board and remained unpublished to this day.In the 'Inventory' Brensztejn presented and described more than 900 archaeological sites known from province of Kaunas in districts of Telšiai, Raseiniai, Šiauliai, Panevėžys, Kaunas, Ukmergė and Zarasai. The same set of papers includes photographic print of archaeological speciments from cemetery at Potumszelu-Kapaj, now Patumšalai district Telšiai. Maria Butrymówna (?-?) was an amateur archaeologist and ethnographer. Her letters include a description of her research at Niewieżniki, now Nevėžninkai district Panevėžys and findings made at her family Jutkonys district Panevėžys. The same set of papers contains a description written by Butrymówna of her excavations at Pakalniszki, now Pakalniškiai district Panevėžys. The collection of the Warsaw Museum includes a phonetic recording of three Lithuanian songs made by Butrymówna around 1902 which she sent to Majewski for publication in Wisła, to which journal she had contributed previously. Wandalin Szukiewicz (1852-1919) - amateur archaeologist, associate member of the Academy of Learning in Kraków, member of the Polish Tourist Association. The Warsaw Museum has in its collection 32 letters from the period 1897 to 1904 and from 1910, written by Szukiewicz from Wilnius and from his family Nacza (present Belarus). In the letters, next to details of his biography, we find information on archaeological investigation made by Szukiewicz of sites in the district of Lyda and Trakai of province of Wilnius, and most of all, detailed description of cemetery at Pomusie, now Pamusiai district Varėna. The same set of papers includes drawings made and signed by Szukiewicz of archaeological and ethnographic artefacts from Moravia, Switzerland, Sweden and England, and of townhouses of Wilnius, plans of archaeological sites and maps.Julian Talko-Hryncewicz (1850-1919) medical doctor and anthropologist. The collection includes his letters. Antoni Zaborski (1850-1906) amateur archaeologist, collector. From his letters we learn that Zaborski was collecting archaeological artefacts, as well as items of epistolography and bibliology, coins, paintings, medals, archival papers, weapons, armour, china, glass and ethnographic specimens from the area of Lithuania and Samogitia. The set of papers are a valuable source for the history of archaeology, especially that many of have not been published in the past. This applies both to the drawn and photographic images of artefacts which were found in the collections of researchers in Lithuanian prehistory, and in letters exchanged by them with Majewski. The rich and varied subject of these letters is of substantial value for understanding the development of archaeology in late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The details they contain are helpful for identifying facts, learning new interesting details, verifying dates and interpreting events.