Dar kartą apie žiemgalių migraciją geležies amžiuje

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Archeologija; Geležies amžius; Kapai; Kapinynai; Statistika; Žemaičiai; Žiemgala; Archaeology; Burial grounds; Burials; Iron Age; Lithuania; Semigallia; Statistics.

ENIt is tried in this paper to discuss the Semigallia Plain settlement process in the Iron Age on the basis of ancient graves archaeological material once more. The method of ancient graves chronological data correlation is used in the research. The chosen for the research region essentially coincides with the geographical Semigallia Plain and occupies only central Semgallia’s Iron Age ethnic-cultural areal part, about 7000 km2 in all. It shoud be mentioned first of all while generalizing the Iron Age ancient graves chronological statistics that in both Latvian and Lithuanian Semigallia Plain’s parts in spite of different burial monuments number a similar settlement chronological sequnence exists - the region under research was populated most densely in the period of 500-800 years A. D. The population density in different Iron Age periods and in different parts of the region under research varied. In the Late Iron Age (10-12 centuries) a vivid ancient graves decrease tendency in the Western part of the region under research was observed. At that time the Eastern part survived constantly populated on the same scale. That can be associated with the increase of agriculture technological level which allowed the local inhabitants to turn more land areas into arable ones between the rivers Lielupe- Mūša and the Svitene. From the point of view of Centre-periphery the constant stability of population in this part of the region under research could be influenced by the increased importance of communication and trade relations along the river Lielupe in the Late Iron Age. [From the publication]