Vilkiautinis: Archaeological Traces in the Surrounding Area

Key facts about the subject

• Burial mound fields and a prehistoric settlement are located in the surrounding area of Vilkiautinis.
• The archaeological sites in the surrounding area of Vilkiautinis date from the 5th to the 12th century.
• The old settlement is dated to the second half of the first millennium.
• The second burial mound field was discovered in 1996; the dead were cremated in both fields.
• Vilkiautinio pilkapynas was 40–100 m long, 4 m wide, and 0.6 m high.
• Finds are held at the Lietuvos nacionalinis muziejus and the Warsaw Archaeological Museum.

Putting early settlement history in context

The burial mound fields and prehistoric settlement in the surrounding area of Vilkiautinis date from the 5th to the 12th century. The second half of the first millennium is also given as the period for the old settlement. The two dates serve different purposes: the first covers a broad timeframe for the archaeological evidence, while the second dates the settlement more specifically. The second burial mound field was discovered in 1996. This date refers to its discovery, not to the age of the burial site. This distinguishes the broad dating, the more specific dating of the settlement, and the time of discovery.

Burial practices and grave goods

The dead were cremated in both burial fields. The grave goods vary. The first burial field yielded spearheads and combat knives, brooches and rings, as well as fragments of equipment for riders and horses. The second yielded spearheads, axes, and a shield boss, as well as fragments of equipment for riders and horses and pottery fragments. Spearheads and equipment fragments link the descriptions; combat knives, brooches, and rings contrast with the axes, shield boss, and pottery. The comparison can therefore be made through specific groups of objects: weapons, jewelry, equipment, and pottery offer different perspectives on the burial finds.

The shape and dimensions of the burial mound field

Vilkiautinio pilkapynas was an elongated burial mound field measuring 40 to 100 m in length, 4 m in width, and 0.6 m in height. The length is given as a range, while the width and height are each given as a single value. The length is therefore considerably greater than the width and height. These dimensions add a spatial perspective to the lists of finds: they describe the shape of the burial mound field, while weapons, jewelry, pottery, and equipment fragments are grave goods.

Find sites and places where finds are held

Finds from the burial mound fields and prehistoric settlement are held at the Lietuvos nacionalinis muziejus and the Warsaw Archaeological Museum. The find sites are in the surrounding area of Vilkiautinis; neither museum is in the town. This distinguishes the connection between the archaeological evidence and the area around Vilkiautinis from the places where the finds are held.

Including Vilkiautinis in your travel plans

The early settlement history offers a specific cultural and historical point of reference when choosing where to visit. If burial practices and archaeological finds interest you, you can include Vilkiautinis in your research on Lithuania, guided by this evidence from the surrounding area.

Discover more destinations: Viršurodukis, Marcinkonių seniūnija, Kibyšiai, Roduka, Genionys, Pamusiai, Merkinė

To the overview of the wider travel area: Varėna District Municipality.